The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Abia State has issued a stern warning that it will resume industrial action starting on Thursday, January 2, 2025, unless the Abia State Government fulfills its promises to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for judiciary workers.

In a statement issued by the union’s Chairman, Comrade Prince Chinedu Ezeh, and Secretary, Comrade Chibueze Nwachukwu, JUSUN revealed that the state government had failed to honor a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on November 8, 2024. The agreement was meant to implement the new minimum wage for judiciary workers, based on the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS), and provide payment for all outstanding entitlements.

The union claims that the government has withheld judiciary workers’ salaries and allocations since October 2024, leaving workers in a difficult financial situation, especially during the holiday season. They criticized the government for releasing an inadequate sum of money over Christmas, which failed to cover the workers’ full salaries.

JUSUN has made the following demands:

  • Immediate implementation of the MoU signed on November 8, 2024.
  • Full payment of salaries according to the CONJUSS structure.
  • Payment of all entitlements and allocations due to the judiciary as approved in the state budget.
  • Ensuring the full implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary, as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

The union has vowed to begin indefinite industrial action on January 2, 2025, if their demands are not met, emphasizing their commitment to the financial independence of the judiciary and the rights of its workers.