Legal practitioners and their clients were left stranded on Wednesday as members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ogun state chapter, embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged short payment of salary by the government.

On Wednesday, courts in Abeokuta were under lock and key as a result of the indefinite strike.

Some of the workers, who spoke anonymously to newsmen, said the industrial action may continue until the government agrees to their request to pay them in full.

Tajudeen Edun, the Chairman of JUSUN in Ogun, disclosed that the strike was in compliance with a directive of JUSUN’s National Secretariat that ordered its commencement on August 11.

Edun explained to newsmen that the union took the decision to embark on strike after a series of meetings with representatives of the state government ended in deadlock.

He added that the union had noticed that judiciary workers in the state were being short-paid since October, 2020.

His words, “It’s been a long time that we have been on the issue, and there were a series of meetings. That is why we asked all members of the Judiciary staff to sit at home until when our request is granted.

“This strike we are embarking on is indefinite, because on February 24 there was an ultimatum given to the government for the payment of full salary before the nationwide strike on autonomy commenced.

“And after the strike, the meeting continued with the government, but there was no positive result.”

He urged the Ogun State Government to look into the request and do the needful; saying, “it was a request that could be easily taken care of because the staff strength is not much.”