The Abia State Government has urged the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to suspend its ongoing strike and provide evidence of unpaid leave bonuses, assuring that verified claims will be settled within 48 hours.

Speaking in Umuahia, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said the government had requested details from the union to confirm whether judiciary workers were indeed owed leave allowances.

He explained that findings from the Office of the Accountant General indicated that judiciary workers’ consolidated salaries already include a leave bonus component, raising questions about the basis of the union’s demand.

“We asked the judiciary to provide evidence that there is no leave bonus component in their salary,” Uwanna said, noting that the union had not yet submitted the required documentation.

He added that once JUSUN provides verifiable proof and the claims are confirmed, the state government would process payment within 48 hours.

Uwanna also highlighted that under the consolidated salary structure, various allowances, including leave bonuses, are typically merged into a single payment, a system also used by the Federal Government for several categories of workers.

Beyond the dispute, the Attorney General raised concerns about delays in the verification of judiciary staff, alleging that resistance from JUSUN members has hindered the process and affected pension payments to retired workers.

He questioned the timing of the strike, noting that it coincided with the scheduled commencement of a verification exercise for judiciary staff.

Uwanna urged the union to call off the strike and allow the verification process to proceed, stressing that continued delays are impacting pensioners who are entitled to their benefits.

Also speaking, the state Accountant General, Njum Onyemanam, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to timely salary and pension payments, usually on or before the 28th of every month.

She emphasised that judiciary staff must submit proper documentation to support any claims of unpaid allowances, adding that while the judiciary manages its own payroll, payments are processed through the appropriate government channels.