THE governor of Abia State, Alex Otti has started disbursing salary arrears owed to judiciary workers in the state over eight years.
In a statement, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko, said the affected workers, who had been due since January 2015, had gone on indefinite strike against the previous state government prior to Otti taking office on May 29.
Uko emphasized that among the workers’ demands was the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as substantive Chief Judge, who had been acting for more than six months.
Other demands included arrears settlement under the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, leave allowances, and judicial autonomy.
According to the statement, the previous administration only fulfilled one of the four demands – confirming the Chief Judge — after then-Governor-elect Otti promised to do so after his inauguration.
Otti’s intervention and commitment to pay the outstanding salary arrears prompted the Abia State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to call off the strike in June 2023.
The Abia State Government, according to the governor’s spokesman, has honored its commitment by beginning the payment of consolidated wage arrears to JUSUN members.
Oracle Chinedu Eze, the union’s leader and chairman, was quoted as commending Otti and the state government for keeping their promise to pay salaries.
“It is with a grateful heart full of joy and happiness that I, on behalf of the entire Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members and executives, wish to inform and appreciate you for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears paid yesterday (November 15, 2023).
“Sir, we are most grateful and thankful sir. May Almighty God bless you mightily. Amen and remain lifted,” Eze reportedly wrote in a message to the Abia State Governor, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna.
