The Abia State Government has called on the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to suspend its ongoing industrial action and present evidence of unpaid leave bonuses, promising swift payment within 48 hours once the claims are verified.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna (SAN), made this known on Thursday in Umuahia while briefing journalists alongside key government officials, including the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Kingsley Nwokocha, the Senior Special Assistant on Labour Relations, Godson Anucha, and the Accountant General of the state.

Uwanna explained that the union had earlier demanded payment of leave allowances, prompting the Office of the Accountant General to request details on how the figures were derived, as well as confirmation that such allowances had not already been paid. According to him, the union has yet to provide the required documentation.

He noted that preliminary findings by the government suggest that judiciary workers’ consolidated salary structure already includes a leave bonus component, which may be equivalent to the leave allowance being requested.

“We asked the judiciary to provide evidence that there is no leave bonus component in their salary,” Uwanna stated, adding that a notice of strike was issued shortly after the request.

The Attorney General explained that under a consolidated salary system, all benefits and allowances are merged into a single payment, making it necessary for JUSUN to prove that the leave bonus is not already embedded in their earnings.

He assured that once the union submits the necessary documents and the claims are verified, payment will be made within 48 hours.

Uwanna also addressed the issue of staff verification, stating that efforts to verify judiciary personnel had been repeatedly hindered by members of the union. He suggested that the timing of the strike, which coincided with the planned commencement of the verification exercise, raised concerns.

According to him, the delay in verification has also affected the payment of pensions to retired judiciary workers, as the process is essential for validating records and ensuring accurate disbursement.

He urged JUSUN to allow the verification exercise to proceed, stressing that it would facilitate the payment of both salaries and pensions.

“We urge them not to continue to make pensioners suffer. These pensioners are entitled to their benefits,” he said.

In her remarks, the Accountant General, Njum Onyemanam, reiterated the government’s commitment to timely payment of salaries and pensions, typically on or before the 28th of each month.

She emphasized that judiciary staff must submit verifiable proof of unpaid entitlements and follow due process to access any outstanding payments, noting that the judiciary independently manages its payroll before forwarding payment requests for processing.

The government maintained that it remains open to dialogue and committed to resolving the dispute while ensuring accountability and transparency in public financial management.