The Abia State Government has called on striking judiciary workers to immediately suspend their industrial action or risk being subjected to a staff audit, as tensions escalate over the controversy surrounding leave allowance payments.
The government insisted that the dispute could be resolved within 48 hours if the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) provides verifiable evidence to support its claims.
Speaking at a press briefing in Umuahia, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), stated that judiciary workers already receive leave benefits embedded in their consolidated salary structure.
Uwanna, who addressed the media alongside the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu; Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha; and Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations, Godson Anucha, challenged the union to prove otherwise.
“If it is established that leave bonus is not part of their consolidated pay, government will settle it within 48 hours,” he said.
He, however, accused JUSUN of resorting to industrial action without substantiating its claims, alleging that the union had failed to provide necessary payroll documentation despite repeated requests.
According to him, rather than submitting evidence to the Office of the Accountant General, the union issued a strike notice, a move he described as an attempt to pressure the government.
Uwanna maintained that available records show that leave bonus also referred to as leave allowance is already captured within the consolidated emoluments of judiciary workers.
He added that under similar salary structures, including in the federal civil service, such allowances are not paid separately.
The government also expressed concern over the union’s refusal to participate in an ongoing staff verification exercise, warning that the development is delaying pension payments to retired judiciary workers.
Uwanna disclosed that the verification process, initially postponed in respect of judicial independence, was scheduled to commence on the same day the strike began, raising questions about the timing of the industrial action.
“It is difficult not to question whether the strike is aimed at frustrating efforts to clean up the system,” he said, warning that failure to verify staff could allow irregularities such as ghost workers to persist.
He urged the union to consider the plight of pensioners who are unable to access their entitlements due to the stalled verification process.
“Calling off the strike will allow the exercise to be concluded and enable pensioners receive their benefits,” he added.
Clarifying the government’s role in salary administration, the State Accountant General, Njum Onyemanam, explained that her office does not manage the detailed payroll of the judiciary due to financial autonomy provisions.
“We release funds in bulk to the judiciary and legislature, which are responsible for disbursing salaries to their workers.
We do not handle their internal payroll details,” she said.Onyemanam reiterated the government’s readiness to meet any legitimate financial obligation once proper documentation is provided.
“The judiciary only needs to submit verifiable records to support its claims. Once that is done, necessary payments will be made,” she assured.
As the standoff continues, the government maintains that the responsibility now lies with JUSUN to either return to work and participate in the verification process or present evidence to justify its demands for payment within the stipulated timeframe.
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