The Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Kwara State Chapter, has paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, Mr. SMH Kosemani, at the NBA House, Ilorin. This visit follows LOAN's recent issuance of a 14 day strike notice to the Kwara State Government over lingering welfare and remuneration issues affecting its members.

Led by its Chairperson, Mrs. M.O. Adebisi, the LOAN delegation met with the NBA Ilorin leadership to brief them on the reasons behind the strike notice. The industrial action is scheduled to take effect from Monday, October 13, 2025, if the government fails to meet their demands before the deadline of Sunday, October 26, 2025.

Addressing the meeting, Mrs. Adebisi decried the persistent neglect of the welfare of law officers in the state, despite their critical contributions to the administration of justice. She noted that several entitlements due to members remain unpaid, forcing the association to issue the ultimatum "in good faith" to finally attract the attention of the state government.

According to the association's letter addressed to His Excellency, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Executive Governor of Kwara State, LOAN's demands include:

1. Payment of the outstanding 50% of the 2020 furniture allowance;

2. Payment of the 2024 furniture allowance in full;

3. Settlement of 2024 and 2025 wardrobe allowances;

4. Implementation of salary harmonization between State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice and their counterparts in the State Judiciary, in line with the 2005 harmonization approval;

5. Passage of a law aligning salaries and benefits of Law Officers with those of judicial officers; and

6. Regular provision of professional training opportunities for Law Officers.

The association further urged the state government to address disparities in pay structures, extend the retirement age for law officers to 65 years, increase wardrobe allowances to N200,000, and include annual Christmas and Ileya welfare packages.

Mrs. Adebisi warned that if the state government fails to act before the expiration of the 14-day notice, LOAN would have no option but to commence a three-day warning strike, followed by an indefinite strike action should their concerns remain unresolved.

In his response, the NBA Ilorin Branch Chairman, Mr. SMH Kosemani, commended the association for adopting a lawful and procedural approach in presenting their grievances. He assured the delegation of the NBA's solidarity and expressed the Bar's concern over the welfare challenges faced by law officers in the state.

Mr. Kosemani, however, appealed to both parties to embrace dialogue and peaceful resolution of the issues, emphasizing that a strike would have adverse consequences on the justice delivery system, particularly in criminal matters. He also called on the Kwara State Government to urgently address the concerns raised to prevent disruption of judicial processes.

The meeting was attended by executive members of the LOAN Kwara Chapter, NBA Ilorin Branch officers, and other stakeholders in the state's justice sector.