AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Judiciary workers in Osun State have embarked on a fresh strike, following directives from the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the union’s chairman, Idris Adeniran, members were ordered to withdraw their services and stay away from work until further notice.
The development comes after JUSUN raised concerns earlier in the week over poor staff welfare and the non-implementation of promotions for 2024 and 2025.
“Despite our letter dated September 3, 2025, the Chairman of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission has not reached out to us, which clearly shows a lack of commitment to the rule of law and industrial harmony,” Adeniran stated.
He called on the commission, chaired by the state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, to urgently convene a sitting to consider staff promotions and sponsor judiciary workers for training at the National Judicial Institute (NJI). Adeniran noted that while other ministries and agencies in the state had received approval and benefits, judiciary staff were being sidelined.
According to the union, the three-day ultimatum issued on September 16, 2025, expired without any response from the commission, leaving workers with no option but to embark on strike.
“All judiciary staff in Osun State are hereby directed to withdraw their services with immediate effect. We urge members to remain united in this action as we defend our rights and interests,” the statement added.
This latest action has thrown the state judiciary into another round of crisis, barely 18 months after a prolonged strike that lasted over three months was suspended in March 2024.
That strike, which began in November 2023, was called to demand better welfare, payment of wardrobe allowances, reinstatement of suspended colleagues, and the lifting of a ban on staff training.
The industrial action was eventually suspended after a tripartite agreement between the state government, judiciary management, and JUSUN. One of the key resolutions then was that the Judicial Service Commission would meet within a week to address pending issues, including staff regularisation and promotions.
With Friday’s strike, many in the state fear the return of prolonged disruptions in judicial activities.
