By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, April 30, 2026
The Abia Government says it has recorded major breakthrough in its negotiations with the striking Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state.
The Director-General, Abia Strategic Communication Bureau, Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, said this at a news conference in Umuahia.
Ememanka also said that the government had maintained daily engagement with the leadership of JUSUN and was close to resolving the issues that led to the strike.
He said: “I can tell you that the State Government has been in daily engagement with the leadership of JUSUN.
“Meetings have been held regularly and talks are ongoing and, as we speak, we are almost at the point of final resolution of the issues that led to this strike,” he said.
According to him, one of the major issues in dispute was the payment of leave allowance to judiciary workers.
He said the government had consistently maintained that workers on consolidated salaries already had leave allowance captured in their salary structure, “a fact that JUSUN later acknowledged during negotiations.
“The only point of divergence was that prior to the 2025 agreement between government and JUSUN, the workers were receiving five per cent as leave bonus, while the 2025 agreement increased it to 10 per cent.
“They are asking for arrears owed before the 2025 agreement and government has agreed to pay the five per cent arrears.
“So, the issue of leave bonus has been conclusively settled,” he said.
On pension payments to retired judiciary workers, Ememanka said that the government insisted that only verified retirees would receive pensions.
“As we speak, verification of retired judiciary workers has commenced,” he said.
He further spoke on the issue of financial autonomy, saying there was substantial compliance in the state.
He contended that the judiciary was already exercising administrative and financial control over its operations.
“The executive arm of government does not pay salaries directly to judiciary staff.
“Every month, the judiciary presents its bill and government releases the bulk allocation to that arm of government.
“The Chief Judge, as head of that arm, determines how the funds are apportioned.
“There is also a Judicial Service Commission that hires, promotes, retires and pays judiciary staff,” he said.
Ememanka also faulted a recent communiqué issued by the Nigerian Bar Association’s Body of Chairmen in the state, describing it as “outdated and not reflective of the progress already made in negotiations”.
He described as unfounded the impression created by the group that Gov. Alex Otti ignored its request for a courtesy visit and that its request for a meeting with the Attorney-General was also ignored.
According to Ememanka, the Attorney-General had offered the group the option of a virtual meeting while away on official assignment, but the offer was declined.
He further said that the government initially chose not to speak publicly on the negotiations until the forum threatened to mobilise lawyers for a protest over the prolonged strike by JUSUN.
“If you read the communiqué carefully, you will discover that the situation they referred to was as at April 11,” he said.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said that the essence of the news conference was to clarify the government’s position and update the public on efforts being made to resolve the strike.
Ekeoma said that JUSUN had eventually accepted that leave allowance was already embedded in the consolidated salary structure of its members.
“We decided to call this press conference to let the public know that this government remains open to continued engagement with JUSUN, the NBA and other stakeholders to ensure that the issues are resolved,” Ekeoma said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state chapter of the association commenced industrial action on March 15.
The action was to protest government’s alleged failure to implement CONJUSS, unpaid leave allowances, poor welfare, non-implementation of judiciary financial autonomy and breach of agreements reportedly reached with the union since 2023.
NAN also reports that the body of chairmen, on Thursday, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the State Government to meet the demands of JUSUN and that failure to comply would lead to mass protest by lawyers in Abia.
