Governor Adeleke Denies Responsibility for JUSUN Strike, Says It’s Within the Mandate of the Chief Judge

OSOGBO – 09/12/2025 – Osunstate.gov.ng

The attention of Governor Ademola Adeleke has been drawn to the letter dated 8th December 2025, issued by the Forum of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Branch in Osun State, wherein allegations were levelled against His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, and his appointees to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

It has therefore become imperative to issue this rejoinder to correct the misrepresentations contained in the petition and to reaffirm the Governor’s unwavering commitment to constitutional governance, the rule of law, and the effective functioning of the judiciary in Osun State.

His Excellency, Governor Adeleke, is deeply concerned about the paralysis of the judiciary in Osun State. The allegations of deliberate refusal or boycott by government-appointed members of the JSC are unfounded. The paralysis of the judiciary is not attributable to any inaction on the part of His Excellency’s appointees, but rather to the persistent refusal of the Honourable Chief Judge to convene meetings of the JSC and to implement the terms of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed during the last strike with members of JUSUN, Osun State Chapter.

The Honourable Chief Judge has, for a continuous period of two years, failed, neglected, and refused to convene any meeting of the Judicial Service Commission. Since the constitution and appointment of the Commission, the Chief Judge has persistently declined to discharge this statutory duty, notwithstanding several letters, formal applications, and repeated reminders duly issued by the Honourable State Attorney General and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). This refusal constitutes a grave dereliction of duty and has effectively hindered the proper functioning of the JSC. We challenge the Chief Judge and the NBA to produce a single letter wherein the Chief Judge either convened a meeting of the JSC or directed the Secretary of the Commission to do so.

During the last JUSUN strike, His Excellency personally intervened. On 6th February 2024, the National President of JUSUN, Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, led members of his Executive to meet with Governor Adeleke, who appealed for a resolution of the legitimate demands of JUSUN, Osun Chapter. Subsequently, the National President met separately with the Honourable Chief Judge and his team to address the grievances of judicial workers.

In a bid to resolve the impasse, a tripartite Memorandum of Agreement dated 16th February 2024 was executed by:

Comrade Marwan Mustapha Adamu, mni, National President of JUSUN (for JUSUN);
Hon. Wole Jimi-Bada, SAN., Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice (for the Osun State Government); and
Mr. F. I. Omisade, Honourable Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice (for the Osun State Judiciary).

The MOA contained clear undertakings, including:

Immediate convening of JSC meetings to reinstate suspended staff.
Promotion and regularization of qualified staff without delay.
Withdrawal of all pending court actions against the JSC, JUSUN, and the Attorney-General.
Payment of 2023 Robe Allowance as budgeted.
Consideration of 2021 and 2022 Robe Allowances.
Development of a robust scheme of service for judiciary staff.
Non-victimization of judicial officers or JUSUN members.
Preservation of NJC’s supervisory powers.
Commitment to enable JUSUN to call off its strike in the public interest.

Despite the Governor’s compliance with the MOA, the Chief Judge has refused to implement her obligations, particularly the convening of JSC meetings. It is therefore unjust to hold the Governor responsible for the continued strike when the Chief Judge has failed to act. The principle of separation of powers dictates that the Chief Judge, as Chairman of the JSC, bears the responsibility to convene meetings. The ball is squarely in the court of the Chief Judge.

Several letters attest to the Chief Judge’s refusal to convene JSC meetings, including:

Ref: OSJD/CJ/VOL.1/24/10 dated 11th March 2024, wherein the Chief Judge expressly declined to summon a meeting.
Ref: JUSUN/NHQ/SUB27/VOL11/37 dated 10th July 2024, signed by Comrade M.J. Akwashiki, Ag. General Secretary of JUSUN, addressed to the Chief Judge.
A joint letter by members of the JSC requesting the Chief Judge to convene a meeting in compliance with the MOA

It is false and misleading to allege that government appointees boycotted JSC meetings. The incontrovertible fact remains that the Chief Judge has never convened any meeting of the JSC in accordance with Section 203 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The only attempt at a meeting was an unconstitutional directive by Hon. Justice Shiyanbola, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, who verbally instructed the Secretary of the JSC to summon a meeting at the premises of the High Court of Osun State. On the date purportedly fixed, the High Court premises were locked by striking JUSUN members, making attendance impossible.

Prior to the strike, JUSUN repeatedly warned the Chief Judge that industrial action would commence if meetings were not convened. Yet, the Chief Judge neither engaged JUSUN nor addressed their grievances. Indeed, JUSUN communiqués confirm that at the onset of the strike, the Chief Judge travelled abroad, abandoning the State and demonstrating indifference to the crisis.

Furthermore, the Chief Judge refused to personally meet with members of JUSUN. In fact, at the last scheduled meeting between JUSUN and the Chief Judge, members of JUSUN were threatened that they would be arrested on the orders of the Chief Judge.

Government-appointed members of the JSC remain fully committed to restoring normalcy. Their willingness to engage was demonstrated at the emergency meeting of 17th November 2023, where the Honourable Attorney-General was nominated to coordinate proceedings in the absence of both the Chief Judge and the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

It is imperative to note that His Excellency, Governor Adeleke, remains steadfast in his commitment to safeguarding the rule of law, strengthening democratic institutions, and ensuring that the judiciary resumes full operations without delay. The Government of Osun State and its appointees to the JSC stand ready to resolve all outstanding issues in the overriding interest of justice, constitutional governance, and good administration. Our only plea is that the Chief Judge does the right thing and not resort to cheap blackmail and gimmicks.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.