The judiciary staff in Osun State on Monday returned to work following the suspension of the three-month strike embarked upon by the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
The workers had embarked on strike in November 2023 to press for better conditions of service, among other demands.
A visit to the High Court Complex on the Osogbo-Ilobu Road by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) showed that in compliance with the directive of its executive to resume on 7th March, workers were seen entering the court complex as early as 7:30 am.
Also, some artisans were seen cutting overgrown grass and cleaning courtrooms and other offices, while a few lawyers were sighted driving in and out of the premises, which accommodates both Magistrate and high courts.
A staff who did not want his name published said that the courts would not be sitting today because of the level of cleaning needed to be done and other arrangements.
He commanded the union for putting the interest of its members at the forefront which has led to some drastic changes.
”I want to thank our union for fighting on our behalf; it was worth it”, he said.
Also, an administrative officer in the court, Mrs Juliet Alabi implored that the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the union, the state judiciary, and the state government be fully implemented.
Alabi further called for the speedy implementation of the MoU in the best interest of the entire judiciary workers in the state.
A lawyer, Mr Jones Olujimi, told NAN that lawyers and litigants were happy to see courtrooms opened after the prolonged strike.
Olujimi said that fresh and pending cases for trial, as well as those for delivery of judgment, would now be given dates by magistrates and judges.
The strike was embarked upon by the union following the alleged seizure of its member’s wardrobe allowances, suspension of some colleagues by the Chief Judge and her refusal to lift the embargo on training of workers.
A statement by the JUSUN Chairman in Osun, Mr. Oluwagbenga Eludire, made available to newsmen on Wednesday, directed its members to resume work on March 11.
Eludire said the suspension of the strike was premised on the tripartite agreement between the Osun government, management of the Osun judiciary, and JUSUN.
He said that one of the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed was that the Judiciary Service Commission would convey a meeting within seven days of the suspension of the strike to ensure that other demands of the union were met.
” The commission is to attend to other demands of the union which include regularisation and promotion of all qualified staff.
“Also, there shall be no form of intimidation of Judiciary officers or members of JUSUN for participating in the just suspended strike,” Eludire said.
The union, the chairman said, appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke and Speaker Wale Egbedun for their invaluable intervention that led to the suspension of the strike.
