Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has started to pay out salary arrears to state judiciary employees over an eight-year period.
This was revealed in a statement by the governor’s chief press secretary, Kazie Uko. She said that the affected employees, who have been unpaid since January 2015, had gone on an indefinite strike against the previous state administration until Otti took office on May 29.
Uko emphasised that Justice Lilian Abai, who had served as interim Chief Judge for more than six months, must be confirmed as the official Chief Judge as part of the requests made by the labour unions.
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Other requests included the establishment of judicial autonomy, leave allowances, and the settlement of arrears under the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure.
According to the statement, the previous administration had only complied with one of the four demands, which was to confirm the Chief Judge, after Governor-elect Otti had promised to do so after taking office.
The Abia State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), in response to Otti’s intervention and pledge to pay the outstanding salary arrears, decided to end the strike in June 2023.
The governor’s spokesperson claims that by starting to pay JUSUN members’ consolidated salary arrears, the Abia State Government has fulfilled its pledge.
Oracle Chinedu Eze, the union’s chairman and leader, was cited as expressing gratitude to Otti and the state government for keeping their word on wage payments.
“I would like to inform and thank you on behalf of the whole Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members and executives for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears that were paid yesterday, November 15, 2023, with a thankful heart full of pleasure and gladness.
“Sir, please accept our sincere gratitude and thanks. May the All-Powerful God lavishly bless you. Eze allegedly wrote, “Amen and remain lifted,” in a message to the governor of Abia State via Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
