Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo
Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Osun State chapter, has extolled the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for his quickly intervening in the crisis between the union and the embattled Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo.
Speaking on behalf of its members when the union paid a courtesy visit to the governor, the Union Chairman, Gbenga Eludire, commended the governor for clearing the backlog of 57 month salaries of some members of the union withheld by the embattled Chief Judge.
He noted further that contrary to the fake news in circulation, Osun State JUSUN has gotten full nod of its national body and its approval for its strike to continue.
According to him, “We are here today because we are happy; the happiness that has eluded us for several years has been restored. All our efforts in the past to restore the happiness of our members failed, but the present state government has restored it.
“We have been working under tense conditions but today we are glad, our members were suspended, exposed to oppression and victimisation but today all that is in the past.
“We decided to put an end to the oppression of the Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo, so we embarked on a strike and the Osun state Government supported us after listening to our plight.
“We are here today with all our members whose salaries were unlawfully withheld so they can show appreciation to the Osun State Government.
“Contrary to the fake news that has been shared, the national body of JUSUN is on our side and they have given us the go ahead with the strike; they said we should not back down until all our demands are met.”
Speaking on behalf of the governor, the Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, commended the union members and its leadership for coming out to fight injustice, noting that an injury to one is an injury to all.
Adewusi noted that all the issues and complaints raised would be looked into, adding that the state government is aware of the urgent need to attend to the condition of the courts around the state as well as the welfare of the judicial workers.
“On behalf of the Osun State government, we want to applaud you for your maturity in the handling of the issue. We commend your approach to ventilating your grievances without resorting to violence.
“In some quarters, they believe it was the Osun State Government that had issue with the embattled Chief Judge but we had to tell them that the CJ had issues with JUSUN, not the state government. However, these JUSUN members are our brothers and sisters in the state, whose wellbeing is paramount to the state government,” he stated.
Earlier, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adewale Egbedun, while hosting the leadership and member of the Judicial Union in his office, apologised for the unfair treatment meted against the judicial staff, especially the five workers who were unfairly suspended.
