Supreme Court Workers Withdraw from Nationwide JUSUN Strike Following CJN’s Intervention
Supreme Court workers have backed out of the nationwide strike set for June 2, following firm assurances from Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
Their decision reflects growing trust in her efforts to resolve judicial salary disputes and push for full implementation of financial commitments in the 2025 budget.
In a significant turn of events, workers at the Supreme Court of Nigeria have opted out of the planned nationwide industrial action scheduled to begin on June 2, 2025. The strike, which was initiated by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), is intended to press home demands for improved remuneration and the release of statutory judicial allocations. However, the apex court staff announced their withdrawal from the strike after a decisive meeting and intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
According to a communique issued by the Supreme Court Chapter of JUSUN, the decision to step down from the strike was influenced by the “credible and verifiable” assurances provided by the CJN. It was reported that the CJN held a closed-door meeting with the Supreme Court workers, during which she laid bare her efforts to address the union’s concerns and outlined concrete steps already taken toward resolving the issues.
Notably, the communique emphasized that the CJN had met with top-ranking officials at the Presidency to formally present the workers’ demands. These include the implementation of the 2025 Appropriation Act provisions, the release of wage arrears, the adjustment for the new minimum wage, and a 25% to 35% salary increment across the judiciary.
Signed by 12 principal officers of the Supreme Court Chapter of JUSUN and led by Chairman Comrade Danladi Nda, the statement acknowledged the CJN’s persistent and commendable efforts. It added that participating in the strike at this point would amount to undermining those efforts and risking the progress made so far.
“Given the level of dedication shown by the Chief Justice in championing our cause, it would be counterproductive and ill-advised to proceed with the planned strike. Doing so would not only neglect the sacrifices she has made on our behalf but could also reverse any gains achieved,” the communique read in part.
It further noted that the decision to withdraw was made after a thorough evaluation of the situation and a unanimous agreement among the chapter’s leadership. The statement described the CJN’s actions as “worthy of support and solidarity,” urging members to allow her more time to finalize engagements with federal authorities.
Similarly, workers under the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Federal High Court have also suspended their participation in the industrial action. In a related statement issued by Mr. Joel Ebiloma, Public Relations Officer of the JUSUN NJC Chapter, it was revealed that a two-week grace period has been granted to relevant government agencies. This window, according to Ebiloma, is intended to allow authorities to meet the judiciary’s demands, particularly the release of funds and implementation of financial provisions already approved in the budget.
The NJC workers stressed that the temporary suspension of the strike is a strategic move to give room for dialogue and peaceful resolution. They noted that further action would depend on the government’s response within the given timeframe.
While lower courts in some regions may still proceed with industrial action, the position of the Supreme Court staff is clear: priority must be given to protecting the CJN’s negotiations and avoiding any disruption that may derail ongoing efforts. The move is seen as a show of confidence in the leadership of Justice Kekere-Ekun and an appeal for patience as discussions with the federal government continue.
