By Abigail Philip David
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has firmly stated that his administration is not owing members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in the state.
Speaking on Sunday during an interdenominational thanksgiving service in Umuahia as part of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebrations, Otti revealed that the state government had already disbursed N30 million to the judiciary union for workers’ payments.
Addressing the ongoing strike by judiciary workers, Otti explained that he became aware of the situation through a newspaper report. He emphasized that his government is committed to timely payments and does not owe any workers.
Otti criticized the judiciary staff leadership for refusing to engage with the government in discussions regarding the implementation of the new minimum wage. He said, *“This government does not owe. It is false to claim that judiciary workers haven’t been paid. We invited them to discuss the new minimum wage, just like we did with the Nigerian Labour Congress, but they declined to meet with us and instead made their own calculations, which contained numerous errors.”
The governor disclosed that he personally intervened by meeting with the Chief Judge to address the issue. Following this, he worked with the Accountant General, Commissioner for Justice, and Commissioner for Finance to finalize the judiciary workers’ salaries. On December 24, 2024, the government remitted N283.2 million to the judiciary’s account.
Otti further revealed that despite the payment, judiciary leaders have yet to disburse the funds to their workers. *“Our responsibility is to remit funds to the judiciary, which we have done. Their responsibility is to pay their staff. I even approved an additional N27 million, raising the total to about N300 million, including funds for the 13th-month salary paid to other workers,”* he explained.
Tribute to Armed Forces
Governor Otti also used the occasion to commend members of the Nigerian Legion and the entire armed forces, acknowledging their bravery and sacrifices.
*“It is not easy to make sacrifices knowing the risks involved in your duty. For this reason, you deserve to be celebrated. Today, we honor both the fallen heroes and those still serving,”* Otti said.
He directed his special adviser on security to collaborate with the leadership of the Nigerian Legion to explore ways to support veterans and their families.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigerian Legion, Ekekwe Duroha, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to honor fallen comrades and recognize those still in active service. He highlighted the hardships military personnel endure and urged continuous prayers and support for them.
