In a bid to resolve the ongoing industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Ondo State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has held a crucial meeting with stakeholders and the leadership of the union, aimed at restoring operations in the state judiciary.
JUSUN had embarked on an indefinite strike three weeks ago, demanding the implementation of constitutional financial autonomy for the judiciary—already affirmed by a Supreme Court judgment—and the immediate enforcement of a 2015 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding fund disbursement to the state judiciary.
The strike followed a 14-day warning notice, which the state government failed to act upon.
Although an agreement has now been reached, the union has insisted that the Ondo State Government must publish a formal circular reflecting the terms of the agreement before the strike is called off.
Speaking to journalists in Akure, the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, confirmed that Governor Aiyedatiwa met with the union leaders to deliberate on ways to end the strike and initiate further dialogue.
“The ongoing strike by JUSUN is layered with political complexity and requires thoughtful navigation,” Ajulo said, stressing that the administration has made significant progress in the justice sector despite resistance often rooted in political undercurrents.
Ajulo, however, cited legal ambiguities in the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed judicial financial autonomy, noting that it lacked clear directives on fund allocation ratios among judicial and governmental agencies. This, he said, has made implementation difficult.
“Some provisions of the Ondo State Judiciary Fund Management (Autonomy) Law, 2021 were set aside, and this prompted the state government to file an appeal for judicial interpretation,” Ajulo added.
He emphasized that the government’s approach was not in bad faith but stemmed from a desire for lawful and sustainable compliance with the constitutional provisions.
Despite the ongoing legal challenge, Ajulo reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to resolve the impasse through continued dialogue and expressed optimism that the strike would soon be called off.
JUSUN Chairperson in Ondo State, Oluwafemi Afolabi, who also confirmed the meeting, stated that the union was prepared to suspend the strike immediately upon receipt of a government circular reflecting the agreement reached.
“Once the state government releases the necessary circular that reflects the agreement, the strike will end,” Afolabi assured.
Governor Aiyedatiwa has reportedly pledged to uphold the judiciary’s constitutional autonomy while also promising administrative reforms to ensure transparency and cooperation going forward.
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