The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Imo state has suspended the ongoing strike action embarked by its members over issues relating to the new minimum wage.
The Imo state chairman of the JUSUN, Comr. Kenneth Aloka disclosed this to journalists in government house on Wednesday after the intervention of JUSUN National President, Marwan Mustapha Adamu and other stakeholders.
He said “since the national officers have take decision that is in our best interest, we owe it as a duty to abide by it so as to allow the committee work out the details of the salary structure. So, we have suspended the strike action to allow the committee work out details of the agreement”.
The National President of JUSUN who also fielded questions from journalists expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the negotiation attributing the dispute between the union in the state and government to communication gap.
He described the meeting with the representative of government as a major step towards resolving the issue that led to the strike action.
“The outcome of the meeting is a very fruitful one as we discussed and arrived on some very positive steps. Government has realized and accepted that the placement of basic salary of judicial staff in Imo state was wrong and we have agreed on N15, 718.75 as basic. The technical committee is now set up to rebuild the salary table. So, I can tell you truly that we have a common understanding” said JUSUN President.
Meanwhile, the state government representative led by the Chief of Staff, Prince Eze Madumere and JUSUN Imo state also led by its state chairman Kenneth Aloka had entered into Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which actually led to the suspension of the strike action.
Both parties with the attendance of JUSUN national president Marwa Mustapha Adamu and Barr. S.I Opara, chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) agreed to set up a 6-man technical committee chaired by the Head of Service (HOS) to harmonize the new salary scale for JUSUN members in the state with the adoption of N15, 718.75 basic paid by Imo state government to civil servants in the state.
The committee is however given one-week to produce a new salary table that will be submitted to the Joint Negotiating Committee for ratification and approval by the governor.
The parties also agreed to ensure that the issue of the new minimum wage payable to judiciary workers is resolved within 21 days of signing the MoU.
