The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Osun State Chapter, has reaffirmed its decision to continue the ongoing strike until all pending promotion issues are addressed and formally ratified by the authorities.

Speaking during an emergency JUSUN congress held on Thursday in Osogbo, the union’s chairman, Comrade Idris Adedayo Adeniran, stated that the strike was driven by the overwhelming support of the labour movement and the collective resolve of judiciary workers to secure their legitimate rights.

Adeniran explained that the congress was convened to remind members of the reasons for the industrial action and to strengthen their unity and commitment to the struggle.

“The strike has not been called off because it was directed by the JUSUN National Secretariat. Until they instruct otherwise, we remain on strike,” he said.

The chairman stressed that the union’s grievances extend beyond the proposed meeting with the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), insisting that a formal agreement must be reached before any negotiation or meeting can proceed.

“Our strike goes beyond the JSC meeting. There must be an agreement before any Judicial Service Commission meeting can take place,” Adeniran emphasized.

He also informed members that the JUSUN National President, Comrade Marwan Adamu, had agreed to visit Osun State in solidarity with the striking workers.

Adeniran maintained that he would not enter into any negotiation without the full participation of union members and the involvement of the national leadership of JUSUN.

“I cannot negotiate alone. Our members must be carried along, and the JUSUN national leadership must be fully involved,” he declared.

The chairman assured members that promotion letters long awaited by judiciary workers would be issued before the strike is suspended, reiterating that the scrapped 2023 promotion exercise must also be ratified.

“The 2023 promotion must be ratified; that is a major condition for ending this strike,” he stated firmly.

Adeniran pledged transparency and accountability in the union’s dealings, assuring workers that their confidence in the leadership would not be misplaced.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Osun State Chapter, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, expressed solidarity with the judiciary workers, assuring them of full labour support.

He condemned any attempt at intimidation, describing the strike as legitimate and justified, given the long-standing neglect of workers’ welfare.

“It is unfortunate that we now have to fight this hard to get what is rightfully ours. Our right must be given to us, and as far as the NLC is concerned, we are in this together,” Arapasopo declared.

Arapasopo appealed to the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, to urgently implement the 2024 and 2025 promotion exercises already approved by the state government for judiciary workers.

He noted that while judiciary workers in other states had received their promotions, their Osun counterparts had been left behind, calling on the Chief Judge to act swiftly to restore industrial harmony within the state judiciary.