BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has decried the recent protests and strike embarked upon by its members in Osun State against the embattled Chief Judge in the state, Oyebola Adepele-Ojo as politically motivated.
The national body, therefore, directed Osun chapter of JUSUN to call off the strike it declared and resume their duty posts without further delay.
This direction was contained in a circular signed by the Deputy President of JUSUN, Emmanuel Abioye, on behalf of the President, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Thursday.
Expressing displeasure at the roles judiciary workers in Osun have been playing since the face-off between Adepele-Ojo, the Legislature and Executive began, the body said it has never directed any member to go on protest, let alone abandon duties.
It said under no guise should any of its members participate in any “illegal picketing, protest or job boycotting whatsoever.”
“Our attention has been drawn to the unfortunate incidence of unrest currently permeating the Osun State Judiciary as a result of the activity of some unscrupulous elements causing confusion in the name of the union in the Osun State Judiciary and we hereby state as follows:
“Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria as a responsible union has never and will never take any perceived or real partisan position in all its activities with individuals or organisations.
“Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has never directed or approved that any of its members should proceed on any protest or picketing activity in Osun State Judiciary or any other state to settle any perceived or real political scores.
“Consequently, upon the above-highlighted position, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria hereby dissociates itself from any action taken so far by any set of people whatsoever under whatever guise and the national secretariat views such action as a calculated attempt by some set of people to play cheap political games with the intent to blackmail the union and tarnish our good image and good reputation built over the years.
“We, thereby, warn that under no guise should any of our members participate in any illegal picketing, protest or job boycotting whatsoever,” the circular read.
The Point had reported that Osun JUSUN declared indefinite strike on Wednesday after it failed to prevent the embattled CJ from accessing her office.
The judiciary workers had gathered in protest and clashed with security details of the female Chief Judge.
During the melee, the policemen fired teargas at the workers without sparing journalists who were there to cover the protest.
