Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed frustration over the ongoing strike by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state, blaming the union’s leadership for failing to distribute over three hundred million naira allocated for judiciary workers’ salaries.
Speaking at the 2025 Armed Forces Day service at Queen Elizabeth Chapel in Umuahia, Otti clarified that his administration had remitted a total of N283,242,318.50 to the judiciary on December 24, 2024, but the union leaders had refused to pay workers. He emphasized that the state government’s responsibility was to transfer funds to the judiciary, and the judiciary’s duty was to ensure workers were paid promptly.
Despite this, Otti revealed that he had approved an additional N27 million for judiciary staff and ensured payment of their thirteenth-month salary, questioning why the strike persists. He accused JUSUN leaders of opting to create their own flawed calculations during minimum wage negotiations, refusing to participate in the state’s organized discussions.
The governor also advised judiciary workers to direct their grievances towards their union leaders and urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to better understand the situation. Additionally, Otti reassured the retired and serving members of the Nigerian Armed Forces that his administration would continue to provide unwavering support.
In his address, Commodore Ekekwe Duroha (retd), State Chairman of the Nigeria Legion, appealed for assistance for surviving ex-servicemen and widows of retired officers amid the current economic challenges.
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