By Desire Emmanuel
The strike embarked on by the judiciary workers in Osun State has entered its eighth week and there seems to be no indication to call it off.
The strike, which began on September 19, has paralysed activities at all the courts in the state as they are currently under lock and key.
The implication is that all the various awaiting trial inmates at the correctional centres in the state who are due for trial are currently languishing in the prisons with no hope of getting their cases heard by judges in the foreseeable future.
Also, lawyers who have cases to handle in the courts are currently helpless.
The judiciary workers embarked on the strike due to what they described as unfavourable working conditions and stagnation regarding promotion and other things they are entitled to.
Some of the judiciary workers who spoke with Impact Nigeria News Online disclosed that for many years, they have been on the same level while some of those who joined the civil service the same day with them are far ahead of them in the other ministries, agencies and parastatals.
One of them, Mrs Fausat Odekunle, said she was promoted six years ago to Level 10, while a civil servant who was employed same day as her and works in the Ministry of Lands is on Level 13 and has been getting her promotion regularly.
She said it was due to this and other issues concerning their welfare that made the leadership of JUSUN to order them to embark on “total, indefinite strike.”
With the strike embarked upon by them, all the courts in Osogbo, Ilesa, Ikore, Ile Ife, among other towns in the state, are currently in limbo.
While the judiciary workers have shunned work for the past eight weeks, the state government has not bothered about the strike and what it portends regarding the closure of the courts.
