Judiciary Workers Begin Strike In Ogun

Activities in all courts in Ogun State have been paralysed as judiciary workers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), in the state begin an indefinite strike yesterday to press home their demand from the state government.

The strike continued today with all courts in the state shut.

Speaking with our correspondent, the state chairman of the Union, Prince (Dr.) Adesina Adesanya JP said only the state government can say specifically when the industrial action will end.

According to the Union leader, “ we gave 14 days ultimatum to the state government to address just one issue which was the unilateral removal of 65 percent from our allowances which was approved by the immediate past government. The agreement was signed and payment commenced that same month. Since we sent the communiqué to the government, it has not deemed it fit to write back to us, even not acknowledging the receipt of our letter.”

On why the union resorted to strike action, the Ijebu Prince disclosed that the resolution of its member after the meeting they held Wednesday evening at the premises of the High Court in Isabo, Abeokuta was that the strike action should continue.

“I received a call from the State Chief Registrar, S.M. Owodunni Esq., that there is going to be a meeting at the office of the Bureau of Establishment and Training at Oke Mosan, the meeting was chaired by the Perm. Sec. in the Ministry, Mrs Yetunde Kujore. I was told that only my Secretary and I are expected at the meeting out of 8 Executive members. I ignored them and went along with all my Exco. Members.”

He continued, ‘’After several tactics to knock our communiqué on the ground of technicalities failed, they resolved to appealing to us to shelve the strike. I told them that I had to inform my people before I could say anything. At our meeting, when I reported the outcome of our meeting with the government representatives, it was resolved that the strike action earlier suspended be resumed until the government is ready to sign an agreement stipulating when to stop the removal.”

Adesanya frowned at the manner they have been treated and called on the people to bear with them as they don’t mean to cause hardship for anybody in the state.

He stated “that Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS) should not cause any friction with the government because the judiciary workers in the state had received it for six months before it was removed again without consulting us.”

The Union went on strike following the unilateral removal of 65 percent on 7 February, 2010 and was suspended on 8 April, 2010 with the intervention of the then acting Head of Service (now confirmed), Princess Iyabode Odulate.

—Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta