Judiciary Workers Declare Oshiomhole Anti-workers’ Governor

Paul Obi in Abuja
Workers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Sunday descried Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, as anti-workers’ governor bent on enslaving workers in the state only to turn round and castigate other governors for the same reason.

 The workers said Oshiomhole has continue to display high level of ‘hypocrisy’ by using legal provisions as a ‘shield’ to protect himself and as a ‘sword’ to fight the poor workers.
They stressed that a situation where governors won’t pay salaries as stipulated by law, and when workers embark on strike and no work, no pay is employed, would not promote industrial harmony in the country.

The National President of JUSUN, Marwan Adamu, who spoke during the third national delegates conference of the union in Katsina, however advocated that no work, no pay be expunged from the Trade Dispute Act.

Adamu explained that this was necessary because such provision negates the whole essence of collective bargaining, social dialogue and of course increase productivity.

 “I read in the dailies where a state governor who owes my members seven months salaries, on the pretence of  no work, no pay, 18 months for local government workers, 42 months arrears of pension and gratuities is saying it is a criminal breach of contract for employer not to pay workers’ salaries, what a hypocrisy.

 “It is sad that Oshiomhole who is a product of court himself will go against a court order, instructing him to respect the provision of the constitution, even when he did not appeal against the judgment,” Adamu stated.

He said the union is determine to ensure independent of the judiciary in accordance with the judgment of Federal High Court, Abuja.
The JUSUN boss observed that the union intend to approach the same court to apply for an action against state governors defaulting joint account.

According to  Adamu, both government and private sector employers today breach the labour law, regulation and order, while ignoring section 15 of the labour act, CAP L1, law of federation, 2014. The Act says “wages shall become due and is payable at the end of each period for which the contract is expected to subsist, that is to say daily, weekly or at such other period as may be agreed upon provided that where the period is more than one month, the wages shall become due and payable at intervals not exceeding one month.”

Also, the union elected new executives to pilot the affairs of JUSUN for the next four years. The newly executives who were returned unopposed, have Mustapha Adamu as president, Olasami Toye Dido as deputy president.

Others are Babaguri Abbo as National Financial Secretary, Ezeh Chinnedu as National Organising Secretary, Mark Ifezue as Vice President, South-east, Abioye Emmanuel as Vice President, South-west, Abdul Nasir A. Mohammed Vice President North-west, Ahmadu Bello Vice President North-east, Musa Jimoh National Treasurer, Saidu Magaji National Assistant Secretary.
Also, Ahmed A. Ahmed was returned as Assistant Financial Secretary, Mahmud Amin as legal Adviser and Ochia Friday as National Auditor.