Governor of Osun State Ademola Adeleke has appointed Mr. Teslim Igbalaye as the committee’s secretary to the state government in order to address the problems that precipitated the JWU of Nigeria’s Osun chapter’s current strike.
As a result of the JUSUN leadership’s declaration of an indefinite strike on November 22, 2023, the state’s courts have been closed. The protest was staged over the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, allegedly being overbearing and not paying their wardrobe allowances. The protest was broken up by police personnel who dispersed the group.
Adeleke had also given the committee a seven-day ultimatum as part of efforts to end the strike, according to a statement made on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. The statement also stated that letters had been sent to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation, requesting their support for a peaceful resolution.
According to Rasheed, Adeleke formed 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.”
cc: Punch Ng
