Civil Societies Sound Alarm Over Paralysed Judiciary
The Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has issued an urgent appeal for immediate negotiations to resolve the ongoing industrial action by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Osun State Branch, which has completely shut down judicial operations across the state.
Courts throughout Osun State have been on total lockdown since September 19, 2025, after judiciary workers embarked on strike to protest unmet demands by the state's judicial leadership.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
In a strongly-worded statement, OCSC Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, lamented the devastating impact of the prolonged courts shutdown, emphasizing that "justice delayed is justice denied" for the people of Osun who deserve a functional, fair, and responsive justice system.
Lawal appealed to all stakeholders, including the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adepele Ojo, the Judicial Service Commission, and JUSUN leadership, to return to the negotiation table without further delay and resolve the impasse in the interest of the state and its citizens.
Root Causes of the Industrial Deadlock
The coalition identified several key issues fueling the industrial action, including:
- Delayed staff promotions for 2024–2025
- Non-sponsorship of training programs at the National Judicial Institute
- Various welfare-related grievances
- Limited communication between JUSUN leadership and judicial management
While acknowledging the legitimate demands of judiciary workers for improved welfare and professional development, the OCSC emphasized the sacred duty of the judiciary as "the last hope of the common man."
The group cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 7(1)(a) of the Trade Disputes Act which protect workers' rights to associate and pursue lawful labour agitation through mediation and conciliation.
Call for Statutory Compliance and Mediation
The OCSC stressed that Section 18 of the Trade Disputes Act explicitly requires all parties in an industrial dispute to continue engaging in dialogue, conciliation, or arbitration in good faith until resolution is achieved.
The civil societies urged both judicial management and JUSUN leadership to comply with these statutory obligations to restore industrial harmony and constitutional order.
They also called upon the Osun State Government and the Nigerian Bar Association, Osogbo Branch to provide moral and administrative support for a neutral mediation platform under Section 5(2) of the Trade Disputes Act.
The coalition reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair, inclusive, and lasting resolution that preserves judicial integrity while protecting the rights of all parties involved in the dispute.
