Kano law officers begin indefinite strike over unmet demands

The Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Kano State Branch, has announced the commencement of an indefinite strike beginning midnight on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, over unresolved grievances and unfulfilled commitments by the state government.

Speaking to journalists in Kano, the association’s chairman, Barrister Aminu Abdullahi Shams, said the decision became inevitable after years of neglect and repeated failed attempts to resolve the issues through dialogue.

Shams referenced a letter addressed to the Head of Civil Service of Kano State titled “Notice of Commencement of Indefinite Strike Action,” in which the association detailed its earlier engagements with government officials. According to him, several communications and interventions, including a letter dated June 18, 2025, and the report of an eight-member technical committee set up by the government, produced no concrete outcome.

He explained that although the committee’s recommendations received executive approval, they were never implemented.

The association also recalled a joint intervention meeting convened by the Secretary to the State Government and the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice in response to its second strike notice dated January 29, 2026. However, Shams said the meeting ended without any meaningful resolution.

He added that the association had earlier suspended a planned strike in February 2026 after an appeal from the government and granted a 28-day grace period, but none of the promised actions were taken.

Following a general congress held on March 9, 2026, the association resolved to invoke Sections 41 and 42 of the Trade Disputes Act, 1976, to proceed with an indefinite strike.

Shams said the decision was reached after careful consideration of the persistent economic and professional challenges faced by members despite what he described as the association’s goodwill, patience and resilience.

Among the grievances listed by the association are the non-payment of fair and reasonable salaries and allowances comparable to those of their counterparts in Jigawa State, the non-payment of fringe benefit allowances since 2017, and the denial of domestic servant allowances.

The association also criticised the removal of sit-in and responsibility allowances for substantive directors, as well as the failure to pay two months’ outstanding salary arrears owed to newly employed State Counsel.

Other concerns include the non-recomputation of retirement benefits for retired members whose basic salaries were reduced during the implementation of the N71,000 minimum wage, lack of office accommodation and basic facilities, absence of official vehicles for State Counsel, and the non-payment of N170,000 fuelling allowances reportedly enjoyed by Magistrates and Sharia Court Judges since January 2024.

The law officers further condemned the failure to implement automatic grade level adjustments for counsel since 2022, the compulsory application of the Kano State Health Contributory Scheme (KACHMA), which they argued should remain voluntary, and the lack of salary upgrades for officers on Grade Level 17 above those on Grade Level 16.

They also demanded that the entry grade level for officers deployed or transferred to the Ministry of Justice be fixed at Grade Level 10 and called for the consolidation of their salaries and allowances in line with those enjoyed by Magistrates.

Shams maintained that the strike was a last resort after years of unfulfilled promises by the government.

“We have demonstrated goodwill, resilience and perseverance, but the government has failed to honour its commitments. Our members can no longer endure these economic hardships and professional challenges,” he said.

With the strike set to begin, the association warned that all legal officers in the state would withdraw their services indefinitely until their demands are addressed.

The development is expected to significantly disrupt the administration of justice in Kano State, as legal officers play key roles in prosecuting cases and representing the government in court.