Abia State Authorities Urge Judicial Employees to End Industrial Action and Undergo Personnel Verification

The Abia State Government has called on striking judiciary workers to suspend their industrial action and participate in a verification process, assuring that the dispute over leave allowance can be resolved within 48 hours if the union can substantiate its claims.

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According to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, judiciary workers already receive leave benefits as part of their consolidated salary structure, and he challenged the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria to provide verifiable evidence to the contrary.

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Uwanna, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha, and the Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations, Godson Anucha, stated that if the union can prove that leave bonus is not included in their pay, the government will make the payment within 48 hours.

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The government has accused the union of taking the state hostage by embarking on a strike without providing the necessary payroll details to support its demand, despite repeated requests for such information.

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Uwanna revealed that instead of receiving the requested documentation, the government was served with a strike notice, and available records indicate that leave bonus is already part of the consolidated emoluments paid to judiciary workers.

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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, drawing a comparison to highlight the point.

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Beyond the pay dispute, the government has expressed concerns over the union's refusal to participate in an ongoing staff verification exercise, which is delaying pension payments to retired judiciary workers.

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Uwanna disclosed that the verification process was scheduled to commence on the same day the strike began, raising suspicions about the timing of the industrial action and wondering if it was mere coincidence or a deliberate attempt to frustrate efforts to sanitize the system.

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The Commissioner warned that failure to undergo verification could allow irregularities, including ghost workers, to continue unchecked, and he appealed to the union to consider the plight of pensioners who have been unable to access their entitlements due to the verification deadlock.

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Uwanna urged the union to call off the strike so that the verification exercise can be concluded and pensioners can begin to receive their payments, emphasizing the need to resolve the issue quickly.

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Responding to inquiries, the Accountant General of the state, Njum Onyemanam, explained that her office, in compliance with financial autonomy and the independence of other arms of government, only releases monthly payments to the Judiciary and Legislative to disburse to their staff without knowing the details.

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Onyemanam reiterated the government's commitment to prompt payment of salaries and pensions, stressing that due process must be followed, and maintained that the judiciary manages its own payroll, requiring only verifiable documents to support their claims to unlock payments.

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The government remains ready to honour any legitimate financial obligation, provided due diligence is observed, according to Onyemanam, who emphasized the need for the union to submit verifiable documents to support their claims.

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With positions hardening on both sides, the state government insists that the ball is now firmly in the union's court, either to return to work and undergo verification or present proof to unlock payment within 48 hours.