Union’s Strike Affecting Judiciary, Legal Practice – Ex-NBA Official

A former national legal adviser of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Victor Nwaugo, has said the ongoing strike by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State chapter has affected the judiciary and legal practice in the state.

Nwaugo stated this while speaking to the media on the two-month-old industrial action in Umuahia, the state capital, describing it as a serious setback for lawyers, litigants, and suspects facing trial in courts.

I’m deeply concerned and personally affected,” he said, adding that “private lawyers who survive on court sittings are losing income, while ordinary citizens are subjected to needless hardship.”

“People who should have regained their freedom remain in custody. Some have been granted bail and met their conditions, yet cannot be released because courts are not sitting.

“Others whose cases were adjourned are left in limbo. It’s a painful situation”, lamented, Nwaugo, who urged members of the chapter to consider suspending the action.

According to him, reliable information available to him suggested that ongoing negotiations between the chapter and the state government have already addressed most of the their demands.

“From my findings, many of their concerns, including leave allowance, have largely been resolved. At this point, litigants are the ones suffering the most,” the former NBA leader maintained.

The action followed the chapter’s demand for leave allowance but, the government had argued that the allowance is already captured in the special salary structure which judiciary workers are already enjoying.

The state attorney general and commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, had accused the chapter of embarking on the strike without submitting their payroll details to justify or prove their claim

‎Uwanna said the existing records indicate leave bonus is part of judiciary workers’ emoluments and added that similar workers under the consolidated salary structure do not receive separate leave allowances.

‎He also raised concerns over the chapter’s refusal to participate in an ongoing staff verification exercise, warning that it is delaying pension payments and could allow irregularities like ghost workers to persist.

‎When contacted, the chairman  of the chapter Chinedu Ezeh, dismissed the lawyer’s position as biased, insisting that workers have an inalienable right to demand better welfare.

‎“He is entitled to his opinion, just as we are constitutionally empowered to protest for improved welfare and working conditions. His stance may be self-serving,” Ezeh said.

‎The chairman maintained that the agitation was not only in the interest of judiciary workers but would also benefit lawyers and the general public.

‎“It is our constitutional right to protest when things are not right. The issues we are raising will ultimately benefit him, other lawyers, and even the ordinary man on the street,” he added.

‎On claims by the government that leave allowances are already embedded in workers’ salaries, the chairman also challenged authorities to provide the proof.