NBA Seeks End to Osun JUSUN strike

The leadership of the Osogbo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association on Thursday pleaded with the striking members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria to call off their strike that has been on for about a month.

The union commenced the strike on November 22 after policemen stopped them from physically harassing the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Adepele Ojo, whom they accused of abuse of office and denying them of their allowances.

On Thursday, the Chairman of Osogbo NBA, Mr. Yemi Abiona, said the strike and the closure of the court were taking a toll on lawyers.

Abiona said many awaiting trial inmates that were supposed to have regained freedom were being held in custodial centres as a result of the industrial action.

He further said, “The strike embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Osun State branch is going to a month now and it has continued to have negative impacts on the lives of lawyers in particular.

“As we all know, the place of work for a lawyer is majorly on the court premises and since JUSUN embarked on this strike all the courts in the state have been under lock and key, automatically denying lawyers their means of sustainability, except for soliciting jobs which they do in the office and for few other lawyers who have work in some other jurisdictions outside Osun State.

“Most lawyers in Osun State are being negatively affected. When you look at almost all the platforms of lawyers in the state, they are already clamouring for the strike to be called off.

“The message I want to send is that JUSUN members should reconsider their stand by giving an avenue to negotiations after resumption because the effects of the strike are not only felt by lawyers but by every other person like those awaiting trials whose cases have been on hold since the strike started.”