The Abia State Government has called on the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to suspend its ongoing strike and provide evidence to support its claim of unpaid leave bonus, promising to settle the issue within 48 hours once the claims are verified.
The appeal comes amid a growing dispute between the government and judiciary workers, which has led to the shutdown of courts across the state and raised concerns about access to justice for residents.
Speaking at a press briefing in Umuahia on Thursday, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the government is ready to pay any outstanding entitlements, but insisted that due process must be followed.
Uwanna explained that the union had demanded payment of leave allowance, also known as leave bonus, but had not provided sufficient details to support the claim.
“We asked the judiciary to provide evidence that there is no leave bonus component in their salary,” he said.
According to him, the Office of the Accountant General requested clarification on how the figures being demanded were calculated, as well as proof that judiciary workers had not already received the allowance as part of their salaries.
However, he said the union failed to provide the required information before proceeding with the strike.
“What we got on March 13 was a notice that the government should either pay them or they would proceed on industrial action by midnight of March 15,” Uwanna stated.
The government maintains that judiciary workers in the state are paid under a consolidated salary structure, which combines all allowances into a single payment.
Uwanna said findings by the government suggest that the leave bonus being demanded may already be included in this consolidated salary.
“A consolidated salary is so called because all components are merged and paid as one,” he explained. “Sometimes, these components are not itemised, but they are part of the total package.”
He added that the government is open to reviewing the claim and will act quickly if it is proven that the leave bonus is not included in the workers’ salary.
“The state will pay within 48 hours once it is established that leave bonus is not a component of their salary,” he assured.
Uwanna also noted that similar salary structures are used at the federal level, where certain categories of workers, including judiciary staff and medical personnel, do not receive separate leave allowances outside their consolidated pay.
The ongoing strike by JUSUN has disrupted court activities in Abia State, affecting both civil and criminal cases. Lawyers, litigants and other court users have been left stranded, with many cases put on hold.
Beyond the issue of leave bonus, the Attorney General raised concerns about the refusal of judiciary workers to participate in a staff verification exercise initiated by the state government.
He said the exercise was designed to ensure transparency and accountability in the payment of salaries and pensions.
“At the commencement of this administration, a verification exercise was conducted for all civil servants,” Uwanna said. “However, because of the independence of the judiciary, its staff were not included initially.”
He explained that the government later engaged the judiciary to appoint a consultant to carry out a separate verification process for its workers.
Interestingly, the verification exercise was scheduled to begin on March 15—the same day the strike started.
“One wonders whether this was coincidental or a deliberate attempt to allow ghost workers or individuals with questionable credentials to continue earning salaries,” Uwanna said.
He stressed that the lack of verification has created challenges in managing the payroll system and has delayed the payment of pensions to retired judiciary staff.
The government has repeatedly appealed to the union to allow the verification process to go ahead, noting that it would help clean up the system and ensure that only genuine workers are paid.
Uwanna also urged the union to consider the impact of the strike on pensioners, who depend on timely payments for their livelihood.
“These pensioners are entitled to their benefits,” he said. “JUSUN should not continue to make them suffer.”
Supporting the government’s position, the state Accountant General, Njum Onyemanam, said the government remains committed to paying workers and pensioners on time.
She noted that salaries and pensions are usually paid on or before the 28th of every month.
Onyemanam explained that the judiciary operates its own payroll system and submits payment requests to her office for processing.
“The Accountant General does not manage the judiciary payroll,” she said. “The judiciary handles its payroll and submits payment vouchers, which are then processed accordingly.”
She highlighted the need for judiciary workers to provide proper documentation to support their claims.
“They must submit verifiable proof that they are entitled to leave allowances that were not paid,” she said.
Other government officials present at the briefing, including the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, and the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha, also called for dialogue and cooperation to resolve the dispute.
The crisis in Abia reflects a broader pattern of labour disputes in Nigeria, where disagreements over wages, allowances and working conditions often lead to strikes.
In many cases, such disputes arise from differences in the interpretation of salary structures, especially under consolidated pay systems.
Labour unions, including JUSUN, play a key role in protecting workers’ rights, but prolonged strikes can have serious consequences for the public.
In the case of judiciary workers, strikes can disrupt the justice system, delay court proceedings and affect the rights of citizens seeking legal redress.
As the standoff continues, many residents of Abia State are hoping for a quick resolution that will allow courts to reopen and normal activities to resume.
For now, the government says it is ready to act—provided the union presents the necessary evidence.
“We are not refusing to pay,” Uwanna said. “We are only asking for proof.”
Whether this assurance will be enough to bring JUSUN back to the negotiating table remains uncertain. But both sides face increasing pressure to find common ground and end the strike in the interest of workers, pensioners and the general public.