…Leave allowance owed by previous administrations – JUSUN

The protracted industrial action by the Abia State Judiciary Workers Union appears to have no end in sight, as the Abia State government has challenged the striking judiciary workers to substantiate their claim of non-payment of leave allowance, among other grievances for which they embarked on strike.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), who addressed journalists on the matter, vowed to pay them within 48 hours if they could provide evidence that their earnings, which were based on the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), excluded their leave bonuses.

Uwanna recalled that the state judiciary workers were earlier directed to provide the evidence on March 13, but that instead of complying, they, on March 15, embarked on the ongoing strike.

The judiciary workers under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) claimed being owed leave allowance, and in protest, proceeded on an indefinite Strike since 15 March 2026, even against the government’s stated directive to them on 13th March ( two days before the 15th March ) to provide this evidence of non payment of this Leave Allowance or Leave Bonus.

But the Attorney General in the company of Commissioners for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, Labour & Productivity Mr Kingsley Nwokocha, State Accountant General (AG) Deaconess Uju Onyemenam, and Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations to the state governor, Comrade Godson Anusha, told journalists that when government received the striking Judiciary Workers request for the Leave Allowance payment, it was discovered through the Office of the AG that part of the components of the Consolidated Salary being paid to judiciary workers, has what is called Leave Bonus, which is also the same thing as the Leave Allowance the Union requested for.

”The Office of the Accountant General then requested the details and how they (Workers) arrived at the leave allowance, and for them to confirm that they have not earned Leave Bonuses before now, but they have not provided such details to date.”

The Attorney General explained that the Consolidated Salary contains everything emolument of the worker, adding that the JUSUN was requested to provide evidence that its salary does not contain “Leave Bonus”, and assured them that once the Union makes available the document and the government confirms it to be true, they would be paid within 48 hours.

The Commissioner also addressed the issue of verification of the Judiciary staff, regretting that the efforts to get them verified have continuously been frustrated by the state JUSUN, and that their refusal to submit themselves to staff verification accounts for non-payment of Pensions to the staff of the Judiciary prior to their retirement.

“One therefore wonders if this was a coincidence or a well-orchestrated scheme to continue to earn salaries by ghost workers and persons who have questionable credentials?

“I would therefore implore them, once again, not to continue to suffer these pensioners. We are all citizens of this state, and the pensioners are entitled to their payment,” he said and urged them to call off the strike to enable a speedy verification exercise.

Also speaking, the Accountant General, Deaconess Njum Onyemanam, reassured the state government’s commitment to effecting payments of staff and pensioners on or before the 28th of every month and stressed the need for the Judiciary to submit its documents to enable the release of the funds accordingly.

Recently, the Secretary of State JUSUN, Pastor Chibueze Nwachukwu, explained that besides demanding payment for their Leave allowance, they are also demanding full implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary, full harmonisation of the judiciary workers’ basic salary structure with that of other public servants in the state.

He, however, clarified that their outstanding leave allowances were not solely incurred under the current administration, but date back to the administrations of former governors Theodore Orji and Okezie Ikpeazu.