The Abia State Government has urged judiciary workers to suspend their ongoing strike and participate in a staff audit, maintaining that the dispute over leave allowances can be resolved promptly.
Speaking at a press conference, the Attorney General, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, stated that judiciary workers already receive leave benefits as part of their consolidated salary structure.
“If it is established that there is no leave bonus component in their consolidated salary, government will pay within 48 hours,” Uwanna said, challenging the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to provide verifiable evidence to support its claims.
The government accused JUSUN of “holding the state to ransom” by embarking on industrial action without submitting the required payroll documentation.
Uwanna added that workers under similar consolidated salary structures do not receive separate leave allowances, and existing records indicate that judiciary workers’ leave bonuses are already embedded in their emoluments.
The strike has also disrupted pension payments to retired workers, with the government attributing the delay to JUSUN’s refusal to participate in the ongoing staff verification exercise.
“Let them call off the strike so verification can be concluded and pensioners can begin to receive their entitlements,” Uwannaappealed.
The Accountant General, Mrs. Njum Onyemanam, explained that her office releases bulk funds to the judiciary without access to detailed payroll records, as the arm of government manages its own payroll system.
“The judiciary manages its own payroll. The only requirement is for them to submit verifiable documents to support their claims,” she said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the prompt payment of salaries and pensions.
