Gov. Otti Begins Payment Of Salary Arrears Of Abia Judicial Workers

According to a release issued on Friday, November 17, by Kazie Uko, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, the judicial workers started receiving their payments since November 15.

"The workers, who had been owed since January 2015, had embarked on an indefinite strike against the immediate past government in the state, to press home their demands, shortly before Governor Otti assumed office on May 29, 2023.

They had demanded the confirmation of Justice Lilian Abai as the substantive Chief Judge of the state, after she had been on acting capacity for over six months. Also, they demanded the payment of the arrears of Consolidated Judiciary Staff Salary Structure, leave allowances and judicial autonomy.

However, out of the four demands, the previous administration was only able to grant one, the confirmation of the Chief Judge, and that was after the then Governor-elect, Dr. Otti, had declared that he would confirm Justice Abai, after being sworn-in as governor.

The intervention of Governor Otti and promise to pay the outstanding salary arrears led to the calling off of the strike action by the workers, who associate under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State Chapter, in June 2023" the statement read in part.

Expressing gratitude to the governor, the JUSUN leader, Oracle Chinedu Eze, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, was quoted as saying;

"It is with a grateful heart full of joy and happiness that I, on behalf of the entire Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria members and executives, wish to inform and appreciate you for the first batch of the CONJUSS arrears paid yesterday (November 15, 2023).

"Sir, we are most grateful and thankful Sir. May Almighty God bless you mightily. Amen and remain lifted".