Abia to Pay JUSUN Leave Allowance Within 48 Hours on Proof — Uwanna

The Abia State Government has pledged to settle claims of unpaid leave allowance owed to members of the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) within 48 hours, provided the union presents verifiable evidence.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, made the commitment on Thursday while addressing journalists in Umuahia against the backdrop of the ongoing strike by judiciary workers.

Uwanna explained that the consolidated salary structure currently in place already includes a component known as “Leave Bonus,” which, according to him, is synonymous with the leave allowance being demanded by the union.

“Consolidated salary is so called because all entitlements are merged and paid in instalments,” he said. “Our findings also indicate that the Federal Government does not pay leave allowance to JUSUN members, just as it does not extend such payments to medical doctors and other health workers under the consolidated scheme.”

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, reiterated the government’s commitment to workers’ welfare, noting that efforts were underway to resolve the dispute and restore industrial harmony.

“The government is mindful of the industrial action and is taking steps to ensure lasting peace within the civil service by addressing the matter appropriately,” Kanu said.

In the same vein, the State Accountant-General, Njum Onyemanam, assured that the government remained committed to the timely payment of salaries and pensions, maintaining that workers and retirees are paid on or before the 28th of every month.

He, however, urged judiciary workers to provide necessary documentation to substantiate their claims.

“The judiciary staff are required to submit verifiable proof that leave allowances were earned but not paid. Once this is done, the payments will be processed accordingly,” Onyemanam stated.