The Chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Osun State Chapter, Comrade Idris Adedayo Adeniran, has reiterated that the ongoing strike by judiciary workers in the state will continue until all pending promotion issues are addressed and ratified.
Speaking during an emergency JUSUN Congress in Osogbo on Thursday, Adeniran explained that the motivation for the strike stemmed from the backing received from the labour movement and the determination of union members to secure their rights.
He noted that the meeting was convened to remind members of the reason for the industrial action and to reinforce their collective commitment to the struggle.
According to him, “The strike has not been called off because it was directed by the JUSUN National Secretariat. Until they instruct otherwise, we remain on strike.”
Adeniran stated that the union’s grievances go beyond the planned meeting with the Judicial Service Commission, JSC, insisting that there must be a formal agreement before any negotiation could proceed.
“Our strike is beyond the JSC meeting. We must have an agreement before any Judiciary Service Commission meeting can take place.”
The JUSUN chairman informed members that the national president of the union, Marwan Adamu had agreed to visit Osun State in solidarity with the workers due to the ongoing strike.
He emphasised that he could not negotiate alone without the involvement of members and the intervention of the national leadership of JUSUN.
“I cannot negotiate by myself except our members are carried along and the JUSUN national leadership is fully involved,” he declared.
Adeniran assured the workers that the long-awaited promotion letters for JUSUN members would be issued before the strike would be suspended.
He also insisted that the earlier scrapped 2023 promotion exercise must be ratified before the industrial action could be called off.
“The 2023 promotion must be ratified; that is a major condition for ending this strike,” he stated firmly.
The chairman pledged that the confidence and trust of members in the union leadership would not be betrayed, promising continued transparency and unity in their pursuit of justice.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Osun State, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, assured judiciary workers that they would not face any form of intimidation, stressing that the strike was legitimate.
He lamented the prevailing national situation, saying the country had reached a point where legitimate demands could only be achieved through painful means such as strikes.
“It is unfortunate that we now have to fight this hard to get what is rightfully ours. Our right must be given to us, and as far as NLC is concerned, we are in this together,” Arapasopo declared.
He appealed to the Chief Judge of Osun State, justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo to implement the state government’s approved 2024 and 2025 promotions for JUSUN members.
He noted that their colleagues in other states had already been promoted while Osun workers remained left behind.
Arapasopo urged justice Adepele Ojo to address the issue promptly to restore industrial harmony within the state’s judiciary.
