Striking Abia Judiciary Workers Suspend 10 Day  Action

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Abia State Chapter, on Monday, November 11, 2024, called off its ten-day old industrial action .

A statement by the State Chairman of the umbrella body of Judiciary workers in the State, Chinedu Eze, said the development is sequel to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between JUSUN and the Abia State Government.

The Source reports that the Union had, on Friday, November 1, 2024, directed its members across the State to proceed on an indefinite strike action, pending when the Abia state Government will meet its demands.

The demands centred mainly on  staff welfare, including the alleged exclusion of JUSUN staff in the new minimum wage implementation and non- payments of many years of  gratuities and other retirement benefits.

The industrial action had severely disrupted Court activities, with all court premises across the state, under lock and key.

The MoU was signed by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, on behalf of the Abia State Government, while the National President of JUSUN, Marwan Adamu, the Abia State Chairman, Eze and Assistant Secretary Chibueze Nwachukwu, all signed for the Judiciary workers.

Part of the MoU stipulates that no official or members of Abia JUSUN shall be intimidated, harassed or punished for participating in the strike action.

Of note is that the State Government has acceded to the demands of the workers to be included in the national minimum wage implementation in line with the CONJUS salary structure for the judiciary workers.

The MoU also made provisions for the Judiciary workers to be availed rice and other palliatives as in the case of other categories of civil servants in the State.

While also agreeing  on the payments of retirement benefits and  entitlements, the MoU, however, stipulates that a joint negotiation team be put in place to meet  at regular intervals to iron out gray areas between the Government and the workers.

While commending the Abia State Government for its prompt response to the demands of the workers, the MoU called for an immediate suspension of the strike action.