Legal services in Kwara State have been disrupted after law officers in the state Ministry of Justice embarked on an indefinite strike, accusing Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of ignoring their welfare demands despite repeated appeals.
The action, which began after the expiration of a seven-day notice, is the latest industrial dispute involving judicial and legal workers in the state.
Seven-Day Notice Expires, Strike Begins
The Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, issued a seven-day strike notice on July 20, 2026, addressed to Governor AbdulRazaq.
The letter, signed by the Acting Chairman, Keyinde Ayorinde, and Secretary, Tolulope Oniyide, warned that members would proceed on an indefinite strike from July 27, 2026 if their demands were not met.
According to the association, the notice period ran until July 26, after which law officers withdrew their services. The union said it had repeatedly appealed to the governor and the Office of the Head of Service over unpaid statutory allowances and poor conditions of service, but alleged that government remained indifferent.
Key Demands Of The Law Officers
At the center of the dispute is what the law officers describe as years of neglect and disparity in treatment compared to other judicial officers.
Their demands include:
Payment of outstanding statutory allowances owed to members of the association
Harmonisation of salaries and conditions of service with those of magistrates in the state judiciary
Settlement of furniture and wardrobe allowances that have remained unpaid
Implementation of the 2025 harmonised salary structure for state counsel and magistrates
Provision of periodic professional training to enhance capacity
The association noted that the hazards and workload associated with their duties have increased, yet welfare packages have not been reviewed to match.“The state government has not responded to our notice of strike, and our demands remain unmet despite the hazards and workload associated with our duties,” the union said in an earlier statement.
Impact On Justice Delivery
With law officers on strike, legal operations across the Ministry of Justice have been grounded. Court proceedings, legal advice to government ministries, prosecution of cases, and drafting of government contracts are expected to face major delays.
The strike follows a similar pattern in recent months. In July 2026, magistrates in Kwara also threatened an indefinite strike over poor welfare, unpaid allowances and what they called discriminatory treatment. Their demands included an immediate salary review to address pay disparity with court registrars, payment of furniture allowance last paid under former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and equitable distribution of official vehicles.
That action was temporarily suspended after intervention by the Chief Judge, who advised that due process required at least seven days notice before any industrial action.
Government’s Position
Governor AbdulRazaq has in the past appealed for understanding over the state’s finances, saying the treasury is lean and cannot accommodate all demands without affecting infrastructure and services. In previous engagements with labour unions, the governor said through his Chief Press Secretary Rafiu Ajakaye that “If we accede to the request of the labour, we will not be able to do any other thing other than paying workers. Our schools have collapsed; the basic health facilities need to be fixed, and we need to do much more for the rest of the population too”.The government has also argued in court that it cannot sign agreements binding local governments to state salary tables when it does not control local government finances.
However, law officers insist that legal professionals cannot be left behind while other sectors are prioritized.
A Recurring Crisis In Kwara’s Justice Sector
This is not the first time legal officers in Kwara have downed tools. In 2025, judiciary workers under JUSUN embarked on an indefinite strike over non-implementation of CONJUSS and delayed salary reviews, suspending it only after government pledged implementation.The current action by law officers shows that welfare issues in the justice sector remain unresolved. The association says it will review its position only if government opens genuine negotiation and addresses the outstanding demands.
As of press time, there has been no public response from the Kwara State Government on the indefinite strike. Court users, litigants, and government departments are already feeling the impact, with files and legal opinions piling up. Union leaders say they remain open to dialogue but will not return to work until concrete steps are taken to pay allowances and harmonise their conditions with those of magistrates.
For now, justice delivery in Kwara has hit another pause, and the ball is in government’s court to decide how quickly it wants the courts and legal services running again.
