Stop playing politics with workers’ welfare, Abia gov’t advises JUSUN leadership
Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Abia state government has advised the leadership of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) to stop playing politics with the worker’s welfare.
Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, gave this advice on Wednesday evening in his office while reacting to the protest embarked on by JUSUN on Wednesday along Ikot-Ekpene Road Umuahia.
Prince Kanu, who expressed surprise over the protest embarked on by JUSUN, said it was unnecessary and amounted to playing politics with the issue of the salary of judiciary workers.
Abia information commissioner, explained that there was an ongoing meeting between the government and the leadership of JUSUN which rose last night (Tuesday 21st) to continue today (Wednesday 22nd January) by 5 o’clock in the evening, hinting that with the information at his disposal, some reasonable level of progress have been made and expressed surprise that JUSUN should organize a protest even after making quite some progress with the government at the meeting.
“It does appear that there is some level of insincerity, some politics that is not well-headed in this matter.
“I say so because I’m aware that a meeting was held yesterday and that meeting lasted into the night between the government and judiciary workers. That meeting ended very late and they agreed to reconvene by 5pm (Wednesday 22nd).
“From the brief I got, some substantial progress was made concerning discussions meant to find a common ground between the government and the judiciary workers.
“So, it comes as a surprise to me that it is not yet 5pm and these people have gone to congregate to protest using prayers as a cover without waiting to attend that meeting for 5 o’clock.
“It does appear that there is a disconnect between the leadership of Judiciary workers and their members. Their leaders couldn’t have come to negotiate with the government only last night and today engage in a protest. There is a problem somewhere.
“In fact, a lot of people from the side of government were surprised to hear that such a thing even happened because they were waiting to reconvene again by 5.00pm today so that they could continue with their discussions and apparently come to some agreements so that this whole issue will come to an end,” Prince Kanu stated.
Prince Okey Kanu reiterated that Governor Alex Otti is committed to the welfare of workers in Abia state maintaining that from the inception of the administration, he has been paying workers regularly every month sometimes before the 28th of the month, while the subvention that should go to any other arm of government or MDA has always been remitted accordingly.
The Information boss advised the leadership of JUSUN to be sincere and ensure they take the welfare of their workers seriously and stop playing politics with the welfare of their workers. The leadership of the Judiciary Workers should sit down with government officials to reach the right agreements that will be beneficial to all the parties involved.
“They (JUSUN leaders) have to come clean and think seriously about the welfare of their workers. Their fate is in their own hands.
“I believe that because of the compassionate disposition of the Governor if this committee that met with the government had had some agreements in place, the Governor would have been more than willing to implement such an agreement.
“if the leadership of the judiciary is playing politics, they should consider the welfare of their workers and sit down and discuss with the government to end this whole saga,” Prince Kanu advised.
It will be recalled that Abia state courts have been under lock and key since the beginning of this year, protesting over the non-remittance of sufficient funds by the Executive arm of government to enable the judiciary arm of government to function well In the state.
