The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) yesterday commenced a nationwide indefinite industrial action. JUSUN is demanding that government fulfils its agreement by signing and implementing the earlier agreed unified scheme of service, welfare package and salaries of its union. The strike makes it the second strike embarked upon by the association this year.

The union had February 4, embarked on a strike that disrupted the sitting of the panel of Appeal Court justices deciding the presidential election petition. The association had entered into negotiation with the government, which had culminated in the inauguration of a committee to look at their grievances.

JUSUN National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Maruwa Mustapha Adamu, said the committee that was set up had since submitted its report, but nothing had been done. Adamu said at a meeting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, three weeks ago, JUSUN gave an ultimatum to the government by threatening to go on strike if nothing was done.

"I am the National Publicity Secretary of JUSUN. I'm of Kano State Judicial Division and I'm in Lagos to monitor the strike and ensure compliance with the sit-at-home order. "We had given the government enough notice. We were in Birnin Kebbi three weeks ago and we issued an ultimatum, which expired today (yesterday).

Since the government has refused to listen to us, the strike will continue until government fulfils its promise and the sit-at-home order will be strictly complied with." The gates to the Lagos High Court, Ikeja Division, were locked. Former Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Chairman, Chief Olabode George, and five others whose trial was to continue yesterday were turned back by the JUSUN executives.

The strike also affected the hearing of the case of money laundering and other charges brought against former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) at the Federal High Court, Enugu. Igbinedion and his team of lawyers who arrived the court premises were refused entrance into the compound.

Apparently worried about the development, Igbinedion's lawyers had to seek the audience of the Deputy Registrar of the court, Mr. Bello Okandeji, who pleaded with the gatemen to allow the former governor and his team to enter the court.

Okandeji told Igbinedion and his lawyers that the court could not entertain the case following the strike embarked upon by the judicial workers. He asked Igbinedion, his counsel and the EFCC to see the judge handling the case in his office to agree on a new date.

He later told newsmen that the judge had given the team December 12 and 17, for the hearing of the case. The gates to the High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyin State, was locked by the judicial workers. In Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, the union members barricaded the gates leading to the judiciary complexes.

Chairman of the Ado-Ekiti branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Dele Omotosho, said it was a sad development at this crucial point in time in the history of Nigeria for this strike to take place.