Edo judiciary workers suspend strike

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

The leadership of Edo State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Monday announced the suspension of its six-month-old strike, and directed its members to resume work at their duty posts on Wednesday.

It was gathered that suspension of the industrial action followed the intervention of an “Honourable Chief Judge’s Committee” chaired by Justice P. A. Akhihiero.

The protesting workers had earlier defied two separate directives by the State Judicial Service Commission to resume work or face outright dismissal from service.

Announcing the suspension of the strike in a statement jointly signed by its National Legal Adviser/National Assistant Secretary, P. Nnamani and the State Chairman, Uyi Ogieriakhi, the Union however said the suspension would last for one month, to enable the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, ‎meet up with the directive that “the recurrent expenditure” of the state judiciary “shall be released to the heads of courts; and with concrete assurances” by the committee that no worker of the state judiciary who took part in the strike would be “victimised.”

Other personalities said to have intervened include the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri; the Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Most Reverend Augustine Akubeze; the Anglican Bishop of Benin Diocese, Dr. Peter Imasuen; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, as well as the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Bar Association.

It would be recalled that judiciary workers in the state have been on strike since 5 January, 2015, over alleged unwillingness of the state government to implement a Federal High Court order which granted financial autonomy to the judiciary and the non-payment of their July, 2014, and January, 2015 salaries.

Meanwhile, the state chairman of JUSUN, Ogieriakhi, hinted yesterday that the workers would begin a “final dispute,” if the state government fails to fulfill its commitment.