The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State Branch says the recent statement credited to the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti regarding the Union’s strike action and release of money for clearance of salaries owed it’s members does not reflect the true position of things.
The Union in a release endorsed by the State Secretary, Chibueze Nwachukwu claims that the Executive Governor may have been misinformed.
The Union while acknowledging that the Governor in his comments said he has released 300 million naira to the Judiciary to cover October 2024 Arrears, November 2024, December 2024 and 13th month salaries of the three different arms that made up the Judiciary in Abia State – High Court, Customary Court and Judicial Service Commission, made it clear that the total amount captured in the audited salary clearance issued by the State Audit for the Judiciary for these stated months is around 900 million naira.
Addressing the statement by the Governor that he sat down himself with the Accountant General and Commissioner of Finance to work out Judiciary Salary, JUSUN wondered when the Governor and his Government team became the Judiciary accounting officers.
“Who from the Judiciary leaders or management team was there with them when they worked the salary.
They sat at the comfort of their own offices and worked out Judiciary workers salaries alone and by themselves, yet he recognised in his comments that the Judiciary is independent.
“It is glaringly clear that the Government has a hidden agenda otherwise what justification do they have to have signed an MOU with the Union, issued audited salary clearance to the Judiciary and now finds it difficult to implement and pay the amount they issued payment clearance on,” the Union explained.
While strongly rejecting that the Union has refused to come for a review, JUSUN challenged Government to provide any official invitation they have sent to the Union to come for a review or discussion which the union leaders rejected.
Arguing further, JUSUN wondered what other review they are calling the union for when they have both reached an agreement and signed on that, which led to the Government issuing the salary clearance to the Judiciary.
“What follows after agreement is implementation.
And that’s what is expected of the Government to do.
“But they have deliberately refused to do the right thing in their attempts to erode and undermine the financial autonomy and independence of the Judiciary.
Recall, Governor Alex Otti on Sunday while speaking at an interdenominational church service to mark this year’s Armed forces and remembrance day celebration declared that it has released salaries for the judiciary and described their current strike action as uncalled for.
