The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State Branch, has expressed profound disappointment over the Abia State Government’s failure to implement the agreed N70,000 minimum wage for judiciary workers. The union also accused the state government of deliberately undermining the financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.
In a statement signed by the union’s Chairman, Comrade Prince Chinedu Ezeh, and Secretary, Comrade Chibueze Nwachukwu, JUSUN recalled a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the state government on November 8, 2024. The agreement stipulated that the new minimum wage, based on the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), would be implemented from October 2024, along with the payment of all due entitlements.
However, the union alleges that the state government has failed to honor the agreement, withholding judiciary salaries and allocations since October 2024, despite the ongoing economic challenges and the festive season. JUSUN further criticized the government for releasing an inadequate sum of money during the Christmas period, which the union claims was insufficient to cover workers’ salaries. The union raised concerns about the source and calculation of the payment, accusing the government of bad faith.
In light of this, JUSUN issued a set of demands, including:
Immediate implementation of the MoU signed on November 8, 2024.
Release of all judiciary salaries in accordance with the CONJUSS minimum wage.
Payment of all entitlements and allocations due to the judiciary, as outlined in the state budget.
Full implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and relevant court rulings.
JUSUN warned that should their demands remain unmet, they will resume an indefinite industrial action starting Thursday, January 2, 2025. The union emphasized its commitment to protecting the rights of judiciary workers and ensuring the independence of the judiciary as guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution.
