Terrible: Judiciary Workers to Embark on Nationwide Strike over Unpaid Wages
Like a biblical saying ‘out of the abundant of the heart the mouth speaks’ The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) could no longer stomach the conditions of their members and has ordered its members across all federal courts and judicial institutions to withdraw their services beginning June 2, in protest over unpaid wage awards and unimplemented salary increases.
Mr. Mustapha Laminu, JUSUN National Vice President for the North Central zone, issued the directive in a statement signed and released on Friday in Abuja. He explained that despite a recent one-month wage award being paid to other public servants, judicial staff remain unpaid for five months.
“This action is to protest against the non-payment of five months arrears of wage award, non-implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage and the non-implementation of the 25/35 per cent salary increase,” Laminu said.
He further lamented that the union had repeatedly engaged management—first with a 21-day ultimatum, then a seven-day notice—and only postponed industrial action following the intervention of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“It is unfortunate that the Judiciary, as an arm of government, is being punished while other arms of government have since been enjoying,” Laminu added.
Alleging that the Ministry of Finance released funds to the Accountant General for these arrears, he accused the Accountant General of refusing to disburse the monies to the judiciary.
“We will continue this action until and unless the government pays us this money,” he declared. Laminu also instructed all JUSUN chapter chairmen to enforce strict compliance with the service withdrawal order.
