Court activities have now fully resumed at the Osun Magistrates’ and High Courts premises, following the conclusion of a two-day nationwide strike organized by the labour union. Today, Media Talk Africa observed the diligent return of judiciary workers to their official duties, with lawyers and litigants driving into the court premises at Oke-Fia, Osogbo.
Furthermore, several courtrooms were unlocked, and Court Clerks were seen attentively waiting for Judges and Magistrates to commence the day’s proceedings.
Expressing his thoughts on the strike, Jimmy Jones, a legal practitioner, commended the labour union for calling off the strike and emphasised the need for continued dialogue between the Federal Government and the labour union. He underscored the necessity of having a clear agenda aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens at large.
According to Jones, the recent strike has demonstrated the resilience of organized labour, highlighting that they cannot be disregarded despite the challenges and mistreatment faced by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajearo, in Imo State.
“The events of the past few days clearly show that no politician, political thugs, or self-sponsored individuals can underestimate the power of organized labour,” Jones remarked. “Ajaero represents the collective voice of all workers in the country, championing their rights. An assault on him is an assault on the entire workforce,” he added.
He further urged all levels of government to take measures to ensure that such incidents do not reoccur, especially during any future protests by organized labour.
Adegbemisola Ajayi, another legal practitioner, also called for a comprehensive investigation into the assault on Joe Ajaero, advocating for the arrest and prosecution of those involved. Ajayi stressed that every Nigerian has the fundamental right to protest within the confines of the law without breaching public peace.
She appealed to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure strict adherence to the agreement reached with the organized labour in order to forestall similar occurrences in the future.
The labour unions had, on Monday evening, instructed their members and affiliates to withdraw their services from Tuesday, a move that was countered by the government, terming it as illegal.
Commercial activities have also resumed in the state, particularly in Osogbo, the state capital, with workers returning to their various places of employment.
