The Ebonyi Government has ordered members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria in the state to immediately suspend their industrial action or be sacked.
JUSUN members in the state embarked on the indefinite strike on August 13 over non-implementation of the Consolidated Judiciary Salary Structure by the state government.
The union defied Governor David Umahi’s threat at a recent state function to sack its members if they embarked on the strike.
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The government’s order for the strike’s suspension was contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki by Ebonyi Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlain Nwele, mandating the JUSUN leadership to immediately comply with the order.
“JUSUN members in the state are therefore directed to return to work on Friday, August 14, or risk being dismissed from service.
“Attendance of judiciary staff will be taken by state government officials to aid payment of August 2020 salary,” the statement read.
Nwele, in the statement, noted that Governor David Umahi considered the strike an act of sabotage which the government will not tolerate.
“This is a period when other states of the federation are unable to pay workers’ salaries due to the negative impact of COVID-19.
“The Ebonyi Government has painstakingly ensured that salaries of workers are consistently paid.
“It, therefore, believes that agitation for salary increase at this time when the state’s revenue is on a steady decline is unpatriotic.”
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