Abia JUSUN Accuses Govt of Plot to Subjugate Judiciary, Insists Strike Is About Autonomy

‎Members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Abia State chapter, have refuted claims by the Abia State Government over their ongoing strike, alleging a plan by the government to subjugate the judiciary under the executive.
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‎The judiciary workers insisted that the strike is not merely about leave bonuses or allowances as alleged by the government, but to protect judicial autonomy and ensure all statutory funds due to them are released.
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‎They also accused the State Accountant General, Mrs Njum Onyemenam, of allegedly withholding funds approved by the governor for the court session of the former Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kalu Amah.
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‎Speaking on Monday at the premises of the State High Court, JUSUN State Chairman, Chinedu Ezeh, was responding to the government’s earlier challenge asking the union to provide details of their consolidated salary payment table before being paid within 48 hours.
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‎Ezeh dismissed claims that his members receive leave allowance within their consolidated salary scheme. He disclosed that Level 5 Step 1 workers in the judiciary earn N86,000 monthly before tax, while other civil servants on the same grade outside the judiciary receive N91,000 before tax.
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‎He maintained that Abia judiciary workers are not afraid of verification but insisted such exercise must be conducted by the judiciary itself as an independent arm, not by a consultant hired by the state government.
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‎Ezeh lamented that the state government is withholding the March 2026 salaries of judiciary staff, alleging the move is aimed at subjecting them to hunger to force a suspension of the strike.
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‎The JUSUN chairman further accused the state government of failing to implement the June 14, 2023 agreement it entered with members, and urged the government to allow the judiciary enjoy its autonomy as provided by the Nigerian Constitution.
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‎He also denied the state government’s claim that the strike is affecting the verification of retired judiciary workers, arguing that the files of the retirees are already with the state government.
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