Abia State government has appealed to members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to end their strike and participate in a scheduled staff verification exercise. The strike, which began on March 15, 2026, has disrupted operations in the state's judiciary. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, made the appeal on Thursday at Government House in Umuahia. He linked the delay in pension payments to retired judiciary staff to the ongoing strike and JUSUN executives' refusal to allow verification of current employees. Uwanna questioned whether the strike was being used to shield ghost workers or individuals with questionable employment credentials.
The government promised to pay all outstanding salaries within 48 hours if JUSUN leaders can prove that Leave Allowance is not already included in the consolidated salaries previously paid. According to Uwanna, the office of the Accountant-General found that Leave Bonus had been part of the consolidated pay structure, effectively covering the Leave Allowance. Accountant-General Njum Onyemanam clarified that she does not manage staff parole but is responsible only for processing payments once vouchers are approved through due process. She emphasized that her office acts on verified documents submitted by the judiciary.
