Judiciary workers in Abia State, under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), have shut down courts across the state and embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of accumulated leave allowances allegedly owed since 2018.

The strike, which has lasted for about two weeks, has paralysed judicial activities in the state.

Speaking with journalists, the Secretary of the Abia State JUSUN chapter, Comrade Pastor Chibuzo Nwachukwu, said the unpaid leave allowance is one of several unresolved issues between the union and the state government.

He listed other grievances to include the non-implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary and the failure to harmonise the judiciary workers’ basic salary structure with that of other public servants in the state.

Nwachukwu stressed the importance of salary harmonisation, noting that most benefits and allowances are calculated based on workers’ basic salaries.

He clarified that the outstanding leave allowances were not solely incurred under the current administration of Governor Alex Otti, who assumed office in 2023, but also date back to the administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu.

Responding to claims that the strike may be politically motivated, Nwachukwu dismissed the allegation as baseless.

“It is laughable to say so. We are agitating because the government is paying other workers while excluding judiciary staff,” he said.

“Our action is informed by the government’s refusal to honour agreements reached on this matter. We served 20-day, 14-day, and seven-day notices, but there was no response.”

He added that the government had not denied responsibility for the payments, noting that several reconciliation meetings were held before the union resorted to strike action.

Meanwhile, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that the state government claims leave allowances have been incorporated into workers’ salaries. However, Nwachukwu rejected the assertion, insisting that the allowances remain unpaid.

He maintained that the strike would continue indefinitely until the union’s demands are fully met. (Guardian)