The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared full support for the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Osun State Chapter.
The Union also called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to urgently prioritize the welfare of judiciary workers in accordance with existing state policies and commitments.
In a statement signed by the NLC Chairperson, Comrade (Dr.) Christopher Abimbola Arapasopo (MPI), the Congress described the grievances of JUSUN as legitimate and long overdue, noting that the strike action was necessitated by “consistent neglect and administrative insensitivity” to the plight of judiciary workers.
According to the NLC, JUSUN’s demands include the implementation of pending promotions and entitlements for 2024 and 2025, restoration of imprest and statutory allowances, sponsorship of staff training at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), and provision of official and utility vehicles to enhance service delivery in the state judiciary.
The Congress expressed concern over what it termed the “indifference” of the Honourable Chief Judge and Chairman of the JSC, urging all relevant authorities to intervene swiftly to prevent further deterioration of the situation.
“It is disheartening that workers in ministries and other agencies on the same grade levels as judiciary staff have received their 2024 and in some cases 2025 promotion letters, with corresponding salary adjustments, while judiciary workers continue to lag behind. This is grossly unfair and unacceptable,” the statement read.
The NLC warned against what it described as a growing culture of impunity and abuse of office in the judicial arm, stressing that such tendencies undermine workers’ morale and institutional integrity.
“For those not in the know, tyranny begins with the loss of personal liberty through the negative deployment of power of an office. Enemies of labour unions forget that they could be the next victims tomorrow,” the Congress stated.
The NLC vowed to ensure full compliance by the JSC with all laws and policies governing workers’ welfare.
“This era of impunity must end. We commend the courage of the Osun State Chapter of JUSUN for standing firm in the defence of workers’ rights and the rule of law. The NLC remains the vanguard of resistance against any form of exploitation. We will not surrender the rights of Nigerian workers. We will mobilize, we will organize, and we will fight back,” the statement reads.
The Congress emphasized that JUSUN, as an affiliate of the NLC, enjoys the Congress’s full moral and institutional backing, describing its struggle as “a just cause for fairness, dignity, and respect for the rule of law.”
