EXPOSE: ENUGU STATE JUDICIARY SHUTS DOWN AS JUSUN RESUMES STRIKE OVER PETER MBAH’S UNFULFILLED AGREEMENTS

Justice administration in Enugu State has hit a total standstill following the full resumption of industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Enugu State Branch. Courtrooms, registries, and administrative offices across the state remain locked in total compliance with the national union directive, leaving litigants, legal practitioners, and the general public stranded.

​The strike stems directly from the failure of the Enugu State Government, under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, to honor and implement the binding agreement jointly negotiated and signed with JUSUN leadership.

The key factors driving the ongoing paralysis within the state's judicial arm highlight serious systemic breakdowns:

​Breach of the September 2025 Accord: Following prolonged consultations, a formal agreement was signed between JUSUN and high-ranking state representatives, including Secretary to the State Government Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, former Attorney-General Hon. Kingsley Udeh SAN, and current Attorney-General Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze. Despite these signatures, the administration has refused to execute the agreed terms.

​The Illusion of Financial Autonomy: While the state government publicly celebrated the approval of full financial autonomy for the judiciary over a year ago, union leaders emphasize that zero structural implementation has occurred on the ground, leaving judiciary workers under intense economic strain.

​Exhaustion of Dialogue and Negotiation: JUSUN leadership confirmed that workers did not resort to industrial action hastily. The union exhausted every administrative channel, bilateral meeting, and negotiation framework before reactivating the strike in response to government inaction.

​Calls for Direct Executive Intervention: Labor leaders and civil society groups urge Governor Peter Mbah to directly step in, move past superficial assurances, and fully execute the signed agreements to restore public confidence and reopen the courts.

​A functioning democracy depends on an independent and properly funded judiciary. The Enugu State Government must act responsibly, honor its legal commitments to workers, and immediately address the grievances paralyzing the state’s justice system.