Anambra judiciary workers suspend strike

The judiciary workers in Anambra State under the aegis of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra state Branch, have suspended their indefinite strike and directed all members to resume work on Friday.

The union had embarked on the strike two weeks ago, saying that the action became necessary because the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, ignored the 21-day ultimatum given by the members.

As a result of the development, the courts in the state have remained non-functional and activities paralysed with no cases calling for mention.

Our correspondent who went around the courts across the state on Thursday observed that people with various matters in court were stranded as the cases were stalled due to the strike.

However, it was gathered that a meeting between the state governor and the leadership of JUSUN had ended in a deadlock on Wednesday.

A top member of the Union, who craved anonymity for fear of being victimised, had said, “The Anambra state government had failed to comply with the agreements reached in 2011 and 2015 with the state JUSUN. The agreements centred on the full implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure, a peculiar allowance for judiciary staff in the state.

“However, during the meeting on Wednesday, instead of Soludo addressing the issue of strike, he threatened to sack the workers and recruit about 1,000 new staff of the body.”

But in a twist of event, the leadership of the union in a press statement on Thursday, signed by the Chairman, JUSUN, Ezeoke Ifeanyichukwu, and Secretary JUSUN, Nwezi Ugochokwu, said the decision to suspend the strike follows a meeting between the governor and JUSUN executives on July 24, 2024.

They said the meeting addressed the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure and the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

According to the statement, the governor promised to set up a committee to tackle the CONJUS issue, leading to the suspension of the strike.

The suspension came after paralysing court activities in the state for two weeks as a result of the protest.

A letter to Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Chief Registrars, Registrars-in-Charge and Staff of Anambra State Judiciary announcing the suspension, read in part, “Sequel to the meeting held between the Governor of Anambra State and the Executives of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch on the 24 of July, being in respect of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure.

“Mr. Governor promised to set up a committee to address the issue of CONJUS after the implementation of the new minimum wage in the state.

“After much deliberations and consideration of the matter by the congress in her emergency meeting held on the 26 of duly, 2024 at the Judiciary Headquarters, High Court of Justice, Awka, the congress reached a decision to suspend the ongoing indefinite strike by the branch.

“In accordance with the decision of the congress, all staff of Anambra State Judiciary are by this notice directed to resume work tomorrow being Friday, the 26 day of July, 2024.