Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has set up a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Teslim Igbalaye, to resolve issues that led to the ongoing strike by the Osun chapter of the Judiciary Workers Union of Nigeria.
Courts in the state have been shut since November 22, 2023, when the leadership of JUSUN declared an indefinite strike after they were dispersed by police operatives on the premises of the State High Courtin Osogbo, where they staged protest over non-payment of their wardrobe allowances and alleged high-handedness by the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.
A statement by the spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday, said as part of efforts to end the strike, Adeleke had also given the committee a seven-day ultimatum, adding that letters were also sent to the Attorney General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria seeking their support for amicable resolution.
Rasheed said Adeleke set up the committee “with a direct mandate to get this dispute resolved whatever it will take, noting that his action is to restore normalcy and not to interfere in the judicial arm of government.
“We are being careful all along not to be accused of meddling in judicial matters. But it is now almost an emergency. We must get the issues ironed out. I told the national leadership of JUSUN to mediate. I am also reaching out to the Attorney General and the Chief Justice. We need to get our courts running for regular dispensation of justice.
“The committee, led by the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, is to find a lasting solution to the crisis within the judiciary within seven days.”
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