By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The Abia State Government has announced that it is irrevocably committed to honouring the terms of its recent Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the striking Judiciary workers in the State.
The Source reports that the Judiciary staff ,under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, had, on January 2, 2025, reactivated its earlier industrial action to press home its demands for enhanced wellfare package inclusion in the payment regime of the N70,000 new minimum wage, payment of retirement benefits and gratuities, and payment of three months salary arrears to its members.
An earlier strike embarked upon in October 2024, in this regard, was, however, suspended after the Union and Abia State Government signed an MoU.
But JUSUN had to call out its members for yet another round of strike on January 2, alleging insincerity on the part of the state Government in implementing the terms of its MoU.
The development which has since shut down the wheel of justice administration in the State, has seen many stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association mediating.
The trouble-shooting efforts of all relevant bodies ,in the industrial dispute culminated in the signing of yet another MoU, last week between JUSUN and the State Government.
But the Judiciary workers have insisted that the Courts will remain shut until every part of the recent MoU is observed by the Abia state Government.
The State authorities had anticipated an immediate re-opening of the Courts following the MoU last week.
The Judiciary workers ,said going by the failure of Government to respect agreements, they will only resume after the remission of funds by the Government for the payments of its three months salary arrears ( October ,November ,and December 2024).
Addressing the Media at the end of its weekly Executive Council Meeting on Tuesday, the State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, informed that efforts are underway to remit funds for the payment of the staff salaries.
“The State Government, I must inform you, is irrevocably committed to honouring all the terms of the MoU”, Kanu stated.
He blamed the seeming delay in the remission of funds for the salary payments on the high volume of paper work involved in the computation process.
According to him, Government’s initial projection was to conclude the process by yesterday ( Tuesday).
He, however, expressed the confidence that the matter will be resolved soonest.
Meanwhile, JUSUN said it will convene a meeting to discuss the re-opening of the Courts once members receive their salaries in line with the terms of the agreement with the Government.
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