The Federal High Court in Abuja was shut down on Monday, June 2, 2025, leaving lawyers, court staff, and litigants stranded outside the premises. This action defied an earlier announcement on Sunday that court workers would not participate in the strike.
The shutdown follows a communiqué issued on May 30 by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), directing its federal chapters to begin an industrial strike from midnight on Sunday, June 1. According to the Acting General Secretary M.J. Akwashiki, the strike resulted from unproductive meetings with the Minister of Labour and Employment. JUSUN’s demands include the payment of a five-month wage award, implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, and a 25%/35% salary increase.
Despite the directives, the National Judicial Council (NJC) JUSUN chapter released a statement through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joel Ebiloma, announcing that the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the NJC, and the Federal High Court would not be participating in the industrial strike. The statement explained that the decision followed the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and a two-week grace period was granted to address the union’s demands.
