Adeleke Denies Responsibility For JUSUN Strike

-Says it’s within the mandate of Chief Judge

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has denied responsibility for the ongoing strike by the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

The clarification came following a letter dated 8th December 2025, issued by the Forum of Nigerian Bar Association Branches in Osun State, wherein allegations were levelled against him and his appointees to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC).

The association had stated in the letter that the strike which began on September 22, 2025, has brought the state’s judicial system to a standstill.

In a communique issued at the end of the Congress of all Osun State lawyers held on December 4, 2025, the NBA appealed to the Governor to: “Direct JUSUN to suspend the strike and resume work within seven days. Ensure that all legitimate grievances of JUSUN are addressed through a structured, time-bound process overseen by the JSC and the Bar.

“Mandate all government-appointed members of the JSC to attend meetings convened by the Chief Judge and restore full operations of the Judicial Service Commission immediately.”

However, Adeleke, on Tuesday, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said the allegations of deliberate refusal or boycott by government-appointed members of the JSC are unfounded.

The statement said the paralysis of the judiciary is not attributable to any inaction on the part of Adeleke’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,” the statement noted.

The statement said it is unjust to hold the Governor responsible for the continued strike when the Chief Judge has failed to act, adding that the principle of separation of powers dictates that the Chief Judge, as Chairman of the JSC, bears the responsibility to convene meetings.

“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,” Adeleke added.