NLC Strike Stalls Tribunal Judgment in Ogun

James Sowole  in Abeokuta

The warning strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), over removal of fuel subsidy, stalled the  judgment of the National/ State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, scheduled to be delivered yesterday.

The judgment, could not be delivered, as leaders of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) locked gate of the Magistrates’ Court at Isabo, Abeokuta, venue of the tribunal’s sitting.

The warning strike which began on Tuesday was expected to end at the close of work yesterday.

The tribunal  had fixed Wednesday for the judgement in a petition filed against the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola  by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Dada Ganiyu Adeleke.

The State Chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Olanrewaju Ajiboye told journalists that judicial workers locked the gate in compliance with the national body’s directive on the two-day warning
strike.

He said: “The tribunal is expected to sit today, but they (judges) are unable to sit because we have locked the gate of the Court in compliance with the directive of the NLC national body. This is why the Tribunal cannot sit today (Wednesday).”

When asked if he’s aware that election tribunal’s proceeding is time bound, Ajiboye responded: “We can’t throw the gate open and allow tribunal to sit; that will mean we intentionally sabotage the struggle of the workers most especially the judicial workers.

“The tribunal has the right to sit anywhere, but this is our own premises, we can always close it as directed by the national body of the union.”