Political tensions have flared in Ondo State as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) blames the ongoing judicial strike on the government’s alleged failure to uphold constitutional financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Judicial workers under the banner of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) commenced an indefinite strike on 13 June, protesting what they describe as persistent state interference in judiciary finances.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SDP State Chairman and legal practitioner, Mr Gbenga Akinbuli, criticised the state’s Attorney General, Dr Olukayode Ajulo (SAN), for what he called a failure to defend the judiciary’s constitutional rights.
“The strike is a direct consequence of the government’s authoritarian tendencies and blatant disregard for judicial independence,” Akinbuli asserted. “As a Senior Advocate, Ajulo has a responsibility to speak truth to power. His silence signals complicity.”
He added that financial autonomy for the judiciary was a matter of constitutional necessity, not a subject for political negotiation or delay.
Despite backing the strike’s demands, Akinbuli urged JUSUN to weigh the wider societal impact of prolonged court closures, noting the hardships it would inflict on ordinary citizens in pursuit of justice.
In a swift rebuttal, Mr Oluwafemi Lawson, a senior aide to the governor, insisted that the administration was committed to reforming and improving the judiciary. He described the situation as a policy challenge rather than a political issue.
“Financial autonomy, while legally recognised, demands institutional collaboration to implement effectively. It’s not simply a matter of executive fiat,” Lawson said.
He added that the Attorney General had not been idle and had participated in numerous efforts to reach a resolution with JUSUN, including offering to meet union leaders at locations of their choice.
The dispute has raised broader concerns about judicial independence and democratic governance in the state as citizens continue to feel the effects of paralysed court activity.