One week after the Ondo State judicial officers declared an indefinite strike action, court operations across the state remain shut.
It was recall that the magistrates, presidents of Grade ‘A’ customary courts and legal research officers commenced indefinite strike on January 5 over the inability of the state government to grant the judiciary financial autonomy, lack of attention to the plight of workers.
Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN also joined the industrial action on January 6,demanding improved welfare conditions.
Some reporters, who visited the courts on Monday observed that the facilities were still under lock and key.
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A top officer, who spoke with the reporters anonymously, accused the Commissioner of Finance, Mrs Omowumi Isaac, of allegedly undermining Aiyedatiwa’s directives on welfare and financial support for the judiciary.
He alleged that “Most approvals by the governor are turned down by the commissioner,” alleging she refused to release the money approved for the purchase of cars for magistrates since December 2024.
He added that even statutory entitlements have been delayed, claiming, “also, the judges annual vacation allowance for 2025 was not paid until the very last week of the vacation.”
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It has been reported that the paralysis of court operations has drawn concern from legal practitioners and civil society, who warn that continued shutdown of judicial services could undermine access to justice and erode public confidence in the rule of law.
At the centre of the crisis is a reported reduction in the judiciary’s proposed budget, from N17 billion in 2025 to N9.5 billion for 2026