Kwara Law Officers Begin Indefinite Strike Over Unpaid Allowances, Salary Disparity

Law officers under the Kwara State Ministry of Justice have commenced an indefinite strike over outstanding statutory allowances and demands for the harmonisation of their salaries and conditions of service with those of magistrates in the state judiciary.

The industrial action followed the expiration of a seven-day ultimatum earlier issued by the law officers, who had called on the state government to address what they described as unresolved welfare and remuneration concerns.

Among the outstanding entitlements cited by the association are the balance of the 50 per cent furniture allowance for 2020 and robe allowances covering 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The law officers are also seeking the implementation of an earlier salary harmonisation arrangement involving state counsel and magistrates in the Kwara State Judiciary. They reportedly based the demand on a 2005 approval relating to the harmonisation of salaries, allowances and other conditions of service.

The association had earlier said repeated representations to the state government through the Office of the Head of Service had not produced the desired resolution, prompting the decision to embark on industrial action.

The strike is expected to affect the activities of law officers within the state Ministry of Justice until the issues raised by the association are addressed.

The development comes amid wider concerns over remuneration and welfare within parts of Kwara’s justice sector. However, the current dispute by the law officers is distinct from earlier salary-related claims involving the broader state workforce, which the Kwara State Government had previously disputed, saying salaries for May and June 2026 were processed and paid, while isolated payment delays were attributed to payroll validation and staff verification procedures.