Under the banner of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, or JUSUN, anambra judiciary employees have cancelled their strike that had been impeding the state’s courts’ operations for the previous two weeks.
The workers announced their decision to call off the strike at an emergency meeting held on thursday at the judicial headquarters in Awka.
They attributed their decision to Professor Chukwuma Soludo, the state governor intervention
A letter suspending the strike, written by JUSUN’s state chairman, Comrade.Ezcoke Henry Ifeanylchukwu and assistant secretary, Nwezi Ugochukwu, addressed the Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Chief Registrars, Registrars In-Charge, and staff of the Anambra State court.
What they’re saying
The letter reads: “Sequel to the meeting held between the Governor of Anambra State and the executive members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Anambra State branch on the 24th of July, 2024 in respect of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUS) over the peculiar allowance for Judiciary workers, Mr. Governor promised to set up a committee to address the issue of CONJUS after the state’s new minimum wage is implemented.
“After much thought and consideration by the Congress during an emergency meeting conducted on June 25, 2024 at the Judiciary headquarters, High Court of Justice, Awka, the Congress decided to stop the branch’s current indefinite strike.
“In accordance with the decision of the Congress, all staff of Anambra State Judiciary are, by this notice, directed to resume work on Friday, the 26th day of July, 2024.
” The demand for payment of Anambra JUSUN’s specific judiciary allowance had languished for 13 years, and at various times, the union and the state government signed agreements on how to proceed.
Why this matters
In the December 31, 2015, agreement between JUSUN and Mr. Harry Udu, the former Head of Service (HOS) of Anambra State, the two sides agreed in principle to implement the CONSUSS if the state’s finances improved.
Before the recent strike, JUSUN officials countered that despite the state’s better earnings, the state administration has persisted in breaking its promise.
They said that JUSUN workers in Anambra State were the lowest paid in the country.
Bottom Line
The two-week strike had disrupted court operations, affecting the administration of justice in the state. The resumption of work will help restore normalcy and ensure that legal proceedings can continue without further delay, benefiting both the judiciary and the public.
