Workers in the judicial service of Abia State have lauded Governor Alex Otti for the commencement of payment of their eight years arrears of salary.
The workers were said to have been owed since January 2015, and embarked on an indefinite strike against the immediate past government in the state, to press home their demands, shortly before Governor Otti assumed office on May 29, 2023.
The workers had among others, demanded the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as the substantive Chief Judge of the state, after she had been on acting capacity for over six months and the payment of the arrears of Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, leave allowances and judicial autonomy.
While the previous administration confirmed the appointment of the substantive Chief Judge, other demands were not met.
In a statement, the workers through their union leader and Chairman, Oracle Chinedu Eze expressed gratitude to the Governor and government of Abia State for fulfilling the promise of salary payments.
“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).
“We are most grateful and thankful. May Almighty God bless you mightily. Amen and remain lifted,” Mr. Eze was quoted to have wrote in a message to the Abia State Governor, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna.
Eze said it was the intervention of Governor Otti and promise to pay the outstanding salary arrears that led to the calling off of the strike by the workers, and expressesed joy that in fulfillment of that promise, the Abia State Government has begun payment of the consolidated salary arrears of the members of JUSUN.
