The Abia State Government has urged striking judiciary workers to suspend their industrial action and submit to verification, insisting that the impasse over leave allowance can be resolved within 48 hours if the union proves its claim.
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Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), maintained that judiciary workers are already enjoying leave benefits as part of their consolidated salary structure.
He was flanked by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu; Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha; and the Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations, Godson Anucha.
The Attorney General challenged the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to present verifiable evidence that leave bonus, synonymous with leave allowance, is not captured in their pay.
“If it is established that there is no leave bonus component in their consolidated salary, government will pay within 48 hours,” Uwanna declared.
The government, however, accused the union of “holding the state to ransom” by embarking on strike without providing requested payroll details to back its demand.
Uwanna revealed that despite repeated requests, JUSUN had yet to furnish the Office of the Accountant General with documentation showing how it arrived at the leave allowance claim or proof that such benefits had never been paid.
“What we received instead was a strike notice threatening industrial action,” he said, adding that available records indicate that leave bonus forms part of the consolidated emoluments paid to judiciary workers.
Drawing comparisons, the Attorney General noted that under the consolidated salary regime, similar categories of workers, including those in federal service, do not receive separate leave allowances.
Beyond the pay dispute, the government raised fresh concerns over the union’s refusal to participate in an ongoing staff verification exercise, an action it said is stalling pension payments to retired judiciary workers.
Uwanna disclosed that the verification process, initially delayed out of respect for judicial independence, was scheduled to commence the same day the strike began, raising suspicions about the timing of the industrial action.
“One wonders if this is mere coincidence or a deliberate attempt to frustrate efforts aimed at sanitising the system,” he said.
He warned that failure to undergo verification could allow irregularities, including the persistence of ghost workers, to continue unchecked.
The Commissioner appealed to JUSUN to consider the plight of pensioners, many of whom have been unable to access their entitlements due to the verification deadlock.
“Let them call off the strike so that this exercise can be concluded and pensioners can begin to receive what is due to them,” he urged.
Responding to inquiries on why the government depends on the workers to provide details of their payment packages, the Accountant General of the state, Njum Onyemanam, explained that her office, in compliance with the financial autonomy of other arms of government, only releases monthly payments to the Judiciary and Legislature for disbursement to their staff.
“We don’t handle the disbursement of their funds. We only release the bulk to them without knowing the details,” she said.
She reiterated the government’s commitment to prompt payment of salaries and pensions, stressing that due process must be followed.
“The judiciary manages its own payroll. The only requirement is for them to submit verifiable documents to support their claims. Once that is done, payments can be processed accordingly,” she explained.
Onyemanam maintained that the government remains ready to honour any legitimate financial obligation, provided due diligence is observed.
With positions hardening on both sides, the state government insists the ball is now firmly in JUSUN’s court, either to return to work and undergo verification or present proof to unlock payment within 48 hours.
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