The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) members in Abia State have announced that they are suspending the strike action they began ten days ago.
The Chairman of JUSUN in Abia, Chinedu Eze, announced on Tuesday during a union meeting at the High Court complex in Umuahia that the strike was suspended following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abia State government. This agreement covers the implementation of the new minimum wage and other issues.
The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Abia State Attorney General Ikechukwu Uwanna, JUSUN National President Marwan Adamu, State Chairman Chinedu Eze, and State Assistant Secretary Chibueze Nwachukwu, confirmed that the strike suspension takes effect immediately, marking a significant step toward resolving the ongoing issues.
The statement confirmed that neither union leaders nor members will face penalties for their involvement in the strike, ensuring no repercussions for participation in the industrial action.
The memorandum further confirmed that the state government has agreed to implement the national minimum wage for judiciary staff, based on the CONJUS scale, starting in October 2024.
The union’s leadership assured that this agreement represents a crucial step in improving the welfare of judiciary workers in the state, emphasizing its importance in ensuring fair treatment and adequate support for those who serve in the judicial system.
He also emphasized that this measure guarantees fair treatment for judiciary employees, acknowledging their vital role in public service and ensuring they receive the recognition and support they deserve for their contributions to the state’s legal system.
Also, judiciary staff will be provided with rice palliatives and other benefits, aligning them with the support offered to other public servants across the state.
He highlighted that the distribution of these benefits reflects the state government’s commitment to addressing the needs of all sectors within the public workforce.
The memorandum of understanding also outlined that judiciary retirees will receive their entitled benefits. It further stated that a negotiation team will be established without delay to meet regularly and address ongoing issues between the union and the government, ensuring timely resolutions and fostering continued dialogue to maintain smooth relations between both parties.
The memorandum commended the State government for swiftly handling staff concerns and expressed the union’s commitment to supporting the state’s policies, highlighting the importance of collaboration for achieving mutual goals and improving the welfare of judiciary workers.
With the strike suspended, unresolved cases and legal matters that were paused since last week can now resume, enabling the judiciary to settle long-awaited matters and restore normalcy in legal proceedings.
