The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, has called off its industrial action following commitments from the state government to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary.
The decision came after extensive deliberations between the union’s State Administrative Council and its national headquarters, as well as negotiations with government representatives.
In a statement titled: “SUSPENSION OF ONDO STATE JUSUN INDUSTRIAL ACTION”, released on Tuesday, JUSUN outlined three key resolutions that led to the suspension of the strike.
First, the state government committed to complying with legal provisions on the release of funds to the judiciary. Second, a committee will be constituted to fast-track the implementation process by July 2025. Third, the judiciary will henceforth manage its funds through monthly allocations beginning in July 2025.
As a result, JUSUN has directed all its members in Ondo State to resume work immediately while engagements with the government continue until full implementation begins.
The union expressed gratitude to several stakeholders, including Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for his commitment to resolving the dispute. Other officials acknowledged include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Commissioner for Finance, the Head of Service, the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, and representatives from the Department of State Services and the Ministry of Labour.
The release read, “Arising from the state administrative council of JUSUN Ondo State and due consultations with our national headquarters, we considered the following and resolved to suspend the ongoing Ondo State JUSUN industrial action:
“Commitment on the part of the state government to implement our demands on compliance with the provision of the law on release of fund to Ondo State judiciary.
“Commitment on the part of the state government to constitute a committee to work within a reasonable timeframe to fast track the implementation in July 2025.
“The meeting also resolved that judiciary will be allowed henceforth to manage its funds through the release of envelope on a monthly basis starting from July 2025.
“In view of this development, JUSUN members Ondo State Branch are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect while engagement with State government continues till commencement of the implementation of our demands in July 2025.
“The Union expresses profound appreciation to:
-His Excellency, the Governor of Ondo State, for the audience, commitment, and pledge to commence the implementation of our demands by July 2025.
-The National Headquarters of JUSUN
-All the NBA Chairmen Ondo State
-The Special Adviser to the Governor on Union Matters and Special Duties
-The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice
-The Commissioner for Finance
-The Head of Service
-The Secretary to the State Government
-The Chief of Staff
-The Controller of Labour
-The DSS
-The Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training.
“for their intervention and efforts in finding a mutually beneficial solution to our demands.”
The strike action, which began in June 2025, paralyzed judicial activities across Ondo State as workers demanded full compliance with the Financial Autonomy Act for the judiciary. The law mandates that state judiciaries receive their allocations directly from the federation account, but implementation had been inconsistent in Ondo State.
During the industrial action, courts were shut down, leaving litigants stranded and worsening the backlog of cases. Governor Aiyedatiwa had earlier met with JUSUN leaders in a bid to resolve the crisis, directing the formation of a committee to address the union’s demands.
The suspension of the strike comes as a relief to the justice sector, which had been at a standstill for weeks. However, JUSUN emphasized that the truce remains contingent on the government fulfilling its promises by July.
