The National body of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has disowned the protests and strikes embarked upon by the branch of the Union in Osun against the Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, and the state government.
The National body in a circular signed by the Deputy President, Emmanuel Abioye said under no guise should any of its members participate in any illegal picketing, protest or job boycotting whatsoever.
The letter read in parts, “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 organisation.
“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.”
The communique read further, “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 aecretariat 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.”
Before now, the state judiciary workers, had accused Ojo of alleged abuse of office and high-handedness, noting that some members of the state’s union were suspended for more than three years, and for some others, about 59 months now.
But following their dispersal by the police yesterday, the Chairman of the Union in Osun, Gbenga Eludire, insisted that members would remain on strike.
