Judiciary Workers Strike: NBA Issues A Five-Day Ultimatum To Abia State Government

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has decried the severe disruption of judicial activities in Abia  State, as well as the  excruciating effects on court users.

This is even as the umbrella body of legal practitioners called on the Abia State Government to resolve  its disagreement with judiciary workers within  the next five working days to save the system from further paralysis .

The Source reports that Judiciary workers in the State, had, on Thursday, January 2, 2025, reactivated its earlier suspended industrial action.

It will be recalled that the Abia State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, had, in October last year, proceeded on an indefinite strike action, citing  the failure of the  State Government to meet the demands of its members, ranging from the non- payment of gratuities, entitlements to exclusion from the recently approved  N70,000 minimum wage as reasons.

However, the industrial action was suspended after a few days following a Memorandum of Understanding MoU entered into between the  State Government and JUSUN.

The alleged non- implementation of the terms of the MoU by the Government was to trigger yet  another  strike action on Jan, 2, a development that has since paralyzed court actives in the State.

But rising from its emergency meeting in Aba on Thursday, January 9, the five branches of NBA in Abia State regretted that the disagreement between the workers and the state Government has left a sour taste  in the mouths of not a few in the State.

Specifically, the body lamented that the locking up of Courts has led to anguish on the part of pretrial inmates, stalling of criminal prosecutions as well as denying  citizens access to justice.

Consequently, the Abia NBA branches noted that the lingering disagreement has resulted in increased crime rate, overcrowded prisons and a significant loss in revenue on the part of court users, including lawyers.

In a communique jointly issued by Charles Onuchukwu, (Aba branch), Issac Anya (Umuahia branch), Eze Nwaegoruo  (Isiala Ngwa branch), KOK Ojike (Ohafia branch), and Kingsley Nwachi (Ukwa Branch), the NBA urged the State Government to within the next five days, ensure that the issues are resolved and courts re- opened.

Highlights of the communique include a call on the Governor, Dr Alex Otti’s administration to urgently implement the new national minimum wage and salary adjustments under the Consolidated Judicial .Salary Structure CONJUSS

“The body demands the  payments of the arrears  and benefits for Judiciary retirees as being demanded by JUSUN.

“The judiciary in Abia State has been effectively shut down, leaving innocent citizens and legal practitioners as collateral damage in this standoff.

“We urge the  Government to urgently address the issue of shortage of Judges in the state.

“The body has resolved  to convene a stakeholders meeting with the Chief Judge of the State, the Attorney General, Senior lawyers and other relevant parties to resolve issues surrounding judicial appointments.

“The Body equally demands  the immediate publications of the results of the February, 2024, aptitude tests for aspiring Customary Court Chairmen. It urged the Judicial Service Commission JSC, to act in this regard without further delay.

“The body calls on the Abia state Government to urgently address JUSUN’s demands within five working days to prevent further  harm to the State’s judicial system.

“The continued inaction by the Government jeopardizes the rule of law and undermines public trust in the judiciary.

“We stand ready to engage constructively ,but insist on immediate action for the greater good of Abia state”, the NBA communique reads in part.