‘Suspend strike, give dialogue a chance’ — NBA chairman appeals to Kwara law officers
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, J. S. Muhammad, has appealed to the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Kwara State Chapter, to suspend its ongoing strike and return to dialogue with the Kwara State Government.
Muhammad made the appeal on Thursday, August 13, 2026, during a meeting with the executives of LOAN, Kwara State Chapter, in Ilorin.
The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Kwara State Chapter, as stakeholders sought a peaceful resolution to the dispute between the law officers and the state government.
The NBA Ilorin chairman acknowledged the grievances and demands of the striking law officers but stressed that continued industrial action could make it more difficult for the parties to reach a mutually acceptable settlement.
He urged the law officers to suspend the strike as a demonstration of their willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations with the government.
“One cannot talk of settlement while one is still on the battlefield,” Muhammad said.
According to him, suspending the industrial action would create a more conducive atmosphere for dialogue and allow ongoing engagements with relevant authorities to yield positive results.
Muhammad further disclosed that he had received assurances from relevant stakeholders that the concerns and demands of the Kwara law officers would be looked into by the state government.
He said the assurances provide room for optimism that the issues in contention can be resolved through constructive engagement rather than continued confrontation.
The NBA chairman therefore appealed to the leadership of LOAN to consider suspending the strike and give further negotiations with the government an opportunity to succeed.
He maintained that dialogue, understanding and cooperation among the parties remained critical to achieving a lasting resolution to the Kwara law officers’ grievances.
The meeting formed part of efforts by stakeholders within the legal profession and the labour movement in Kwara State to facilitate discussions between the law officers and the government and resolve the issues that led to the industrial action.
Muhammad expressed confidence that sustained engagement would lead to the satisfactory resolution of the outstanding demands of the law officers.
The appeal comes as the Kwara law officers’ strike continues to generate concern over the impact of the industrial action and the need for a negotiated settlement between the affected workers and the state government.
The statement was signed by B. O. Banigbe, Publicity Secretary, NBA Ilorin Branch.
