- A legal practitioner, Jones Olujimi, said lawyers and litigants were happy to see courtrooms opened after the prolonged strike.
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Mr Olujimi said fresh and pending cases for trial, as well as those for delivery of judgment would now be given dates by magistrates and judges.
Following the suspension of the three-month strike embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, the Osun state Judiciary staff on Monday returned back to work.
The judiciary workers in Osun had in November 2023 embarked on strike to press for better conditions of service among other demands.
A visit by NAN to the high courrt complex on the Osogbo-Ilobu Road showed that in compliance with the directive of its executive to resume on March 7, workers had resumed work.
Some artisans were seen cutting grass, cleaning courtrooms, and driving in and out of offices.
Courts would not sit today due to cleaning and arrangements, a staff disclosed
The staff praised union for prioritizing members’ interests, leading to drastic changes.
”I want to thank our union for fighting on our behalf; it was worth it,” he said.
Mrs. Juliet Alabi, a court administrative officer, urged the full implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the union, Osun judiciary, and the state government.
Mr Jones Olujimi, a lawyer 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.
NAN recalls that 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 Gov. Ademola Adeleke and Speaker Wale Egbedun for their invaluable intervention that led to the suspension of the strike.