Abia Govt Urges JUSUN to Suspend Strike, Return for Verification

The Abia State Government has urged members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to call off their ongoing strike and return to work to enable a staff verification exercise.

The government also assured that salaries of the workers would be paid within 48 hours if the union provides evidence that Leave Allowance was not included in the consolidated salaries previously paid to judiciary staff.

The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, made the appeal on Thursday at the Government House in Umuahia while briefing journalists on efforts to resolve the industrial dispute.

Uwanna expressed concern that the strike, which began on March 15, 2026, and the refusal of JUSUN leadership to allow its members participate in the verification process, had delayed payment of pensions to retired judiciary workers.

He questioned whether the development was coincidental or a deliberate attempt to sustain irregularities in the system.

“JUSUN should allow the judiciary to verify its staff so that pensioners can be paid. Let them call off the strike to enable this process and ensure that retirees receive their entitlements,” he said.

On the issue of Leave Allowance, Uwanna stated that the state government, through the Office of the Accountant-General, discovered that the consolidated salaries paid to judiciary workers already included a Leave Bonus, which he said is synonymous with Leave Allowance.

Also speaking, the Accountant-General of the state, Njum Onyemanam, clarified that her office does not manage the payroll of judiciary staff. She explained that payments are only effected after vouchers submitted by the judiciary pass through the required approval processes.

The strike has continued to disrupt court activities across the state, raising concerns over access to justice and welfare of retired personnel.