Judiciary Workers Paralyse Court Activities in Anambra

David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

Courts in Anambra State yesterday remained closed owing to the strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Anambra State branch.

The strike crippled activities in all the courts in the state, leaving premises of judiciary deserted.

JUSUN had last weekend declared strike following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum by the union.

In a strike notification letter signed by the Assistant Secretary of JUSUN in the state, Nwezi Ugochukwu, the union said the reason for the strike was because of the Anambra State government’s refusal to pay the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure (CONJUSS).

When THISDAY visited the state judiciary complex in Awka, the entire complex was locked without any trace of a single worker.

Some stakeholders of the justice sector in the state decried the nonchalant attitude of the governor in dealing with the workers.

A judiciary staff members, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “Now that the courts have been paralyzed, maybe the government will now be forced to negotiate with us.

“This matter has lingered on since 2011 when we had an agreement with the government, and again in 2015, but all these have been ignored.

“Even the 21-day ultimatum we gave the government before embarking on this strike was ignored.”