JUSUN Anambra state at loggerheads with Anambra Government

Press statement on striking judiciary workers in Anambra state

The Government of Anambra State has observed with dismay the deliberate effort of some members of the Executive of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (Anambra State Branch) to draw out and unnecessarily prolong the ongoing strike action by the Union commenced on 7th September, 2015.


This is in spite of the well meaning fatherly gestures of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State who merely inherited the problem that is the subject of this strike, as well as other stakeholders in the state including the House of Assembly, the Nigeria Bar Association (Anambra State Branch), the Nigeria Labour Congress and many others.
 It has, therefore, become necessary to clarify the facts for the benefit of all members of JUSUN, stakeholders and the general public, since major instruments JUSUN had deployed to prolong this strike have been disinformation and misinformation.
  (I). The State Government had on the 12th day of July 2011 ( Long before this Administration came into being) entered into an Agreement with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Anambra State Branch (JUSUN) over non-implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUS); wherein JUSUN accepted the CONJUSS offered by the Government then pending when the finances of the Government improved at which time the issue would be revisited.
  (ii). The previous Government which entered into this Agreement could not implement it and this Government inherited the matter as Governance is continuous.
  (iii). In the course of the present negotiations with the JUSUN, the Government made a commitment to review upwards the CONJUSS when the state finances improve substantially. This commitment is consistent with the promise made by our worker-friendly Governor, Chief Willie  Maduaburochukwu Obiano to further upgrade the salaries of workers when finances improve significantly. Earlier this year, His Excellency had without prompting increased workers salary state wide in line with his earlier promise to do so on assumption of office.
   (iv). The Government, in the course of the negotiation with JUSUN had also agreed to convene a meeting in the third quarter of 2016 for the purpose of determining the feasibility of the promised review, which is dependent on improved finances.
    (v). As a demonstration of good faith, the Governor had approved the payment of the November salaries of the Judiciary workers, even when they were still on strike, with a promise to pay them for December if they called off on 7th December, 2015. The Government had also accepted to pay the arrears of September and October 2015 which accrued as a result of the strike in January to March 2016.
    (Vi). Unfortunately, it has became obvious that a few members of the Executive of JUSUN are hell-bent on prolonging this strike action for reasons best known to them even against the wish of majority of the members of the Union.
 Consequently, Government directs all Judiciary workers to resume work on Monday, 14th December, 2015. Government further directs all the management and directing staff of the various offices, courts and units in the Judiciary to maintain a scrupulous list of those who resumed duty as directed, as only those will be paid their salary for the month of December. Government further assures the returning workers of their safety upon return.

Signed.

Barr. Harry Uduh

HEAD OF SERVICE.