Governor Ademola Adeleke has refuted allegations that his appointees to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) are responsible for the ongoing paralysis of the judiciary in Osun State, placing the blame squarely on the Chief Judge.
In a rejoinder issued on Tuesday, the governor’s office responded to a letter dated December 8, from the Forum of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Branches in the state, which levelled allegations against the governor and his appointees.
Adeleke’s administration asserts that the judiciary’s paralysis is not due to any inaction by government-appointed JSC members, but rather the persistent refusal of the Chief Judge to convene meetings of the JSC and implement a previous agreement with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
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The statement alleges that the Chief Judge has for a continuous period of two years, failed, neglected, and refused to convene any meeting of the Judicial Service Commission.
The governor challenged the Chief Judge and the NBA to produce evidence of any meeting convened by the Chief Judge since the constitution and appointment of the commission, describing the refusal as a “grave dereliction of duty.”
The governor’s office recalled that during the last JUSUN strike, Adeleke personally intervened, meeting with the National President of JUSUN, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, on February 6, 2024.
This intervention led to the execution of a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on February 16, 2024, signed by representatives of JUSUN, the Osun State Government through the Attorney-General, Wole Jimi-Bada, and the Osun State Judiciary through the Chief Registrar, Mr F. I. Omisade.
The MOA contained clear undertakings intended to resolve the strike, including: immediate convening of JSC meetings to reinstate suspended staff, and promotion and regularisation of qualified staff without delay.
Others are withdrawal of all pending court actions against the JSC, JUSUN, and the Attorney-General, payment of 2023 Robe Allowance as budgeted and development of a robust scheme of service for judiciary staff.
The governor’s statement contends that the Chief Judge’s refusal to convene JSC meetings, an obligation central to the MOA, is the primary obstacle hindering the resolution of the JUSUN strike.
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The government reaffirms its commitment to constitutional governance and its readiness to resolve all outstanding issues.
