JUDICIARY workers in Osun state, under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) on Monday, November 20, protested the non-payment of their wardrobe allowance since 2021.
The protest in the state capital, Osogbo, is against the embattled Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, and the state’s judiciary management.
Led by the JUSUN chairman in the state, Oluwagbemiga Eludire, the workers displayed placards with inscriptions, including “We are tired of oppression and stagnation”, ‘judiciary staff deserves better”, and ‘unlawful suspension of judiciary staff without recourse to Judicial Service Commission is barbaric.”.
The workers prevented human and vehicular movement from and into the court premises. They also accused the chief judge, Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of denying workers wardrobe allowances in the last three years.
Addressing journalists on Monday, Eludire said the protest was because they demanded from the chief judge why their wardrobe allowance from 2021 had not been released despite funding by the state government.
“We want to know why the government directive on promotion and advancement made available by the Osun government was not used for the approved purpose.
“We want to know why notable JUSUN members were unlawfully suspended without proper investigation against public service rules. We will not back down until appropriate action is taken,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has reversed the appointment of Olayinka Afolabi as the state acting chief judge to replace Ojo.
The call by the Osun state House House of Assembly for Ojo to resign due to accusations of ‘serious wrongdoings’ generated so much controversy over the last week,
Consequently, Adeleke designated Olayinka as the acting chief justice.
However, the Nigerian Bar Association and other judiciary stakeholders have opposed the decision.
Adeleke said in a statement on Sunday, November 19, that he sent the House of Assembly’s resolution and proposal to the chief justice of the federation for consideration and action through his commissioner for information and public enlightenment, Oluomo Alimi.
“Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the chief justice of the federation as the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting chief judge of Osun state,” the statement read.
A reporter with the ICIR
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