The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has commenced the disbursement of salary arrears, covering eight years, for judiciary workers in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary for the governor, Kazie Uko, revealed in a statement that Otti has initiated the disbursement of salary arrears spanning eight years for judiciary workers in the state.
The workers, owned since January 2015, had participated in an indefinite strike against the previous state government before Otti assumed office on May 29.
Uko emphasized that the workers had several demands, including the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as the substantive Chief Judge, who had been in an acting capacity for over six months.
Other demands encompassed the settlement of arrears under the Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, leave allowances, and the establishment of judicial autonomy.
The statement highlighted that the previous administration had only addressed one of the four demands — confirming the Chief Judge — following Governor-elect Otti’s commitment to fulfilling this promise after his inauguration.
Otti’s intervention and commitment to settling the outstanding salary arrears prompted the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State Chapter, to call off the strike in June 2023.
According to the governor’s spokesman, the Abia State Government has kept its promise by commencing the payment of consolidated salary arrears to JUSUN members.
The union leader, Oracle Chinedu Eze, expressed appreciation to Governor Otti and the state government for honouring their commitment to 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).
“Sir, we are most grateful and thankful, sir. May Almighty God bless you mightily. Amen and remain lifted,” Eze reportedly wrote in a message to the Abia State Governor through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna.
