From Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi state branch of Judiciary staff union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has embarked on an indefinite strike to compel Kebbi government to meet their demands.
The industrial action which commenced on Thursday shutting down all courts in kebbi state will remain till the demands of the union are met by the government.
Arising from their excos meeting, the state branch chairman comrade Umar Bawa said that, industrial action remains the last alternative to the union.
He noted that his EXCOs met with government delagations but could not reach truce that may avert the strike.
“All courts in Kebbi state are by this notice directed to shut down and halt all activities till further notice he said.
Bawa added that, their demands include peculiar allowances that other judiciary staff in other states enjoys but denied here in Kebbi after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the union leaders and government officials in 2018.
“When the union declared warning strike they are 1 outfit allowances which is 10% of annual basic salaries, furniture allowances 50% of basic salaries, inducement allowances 3.5% of basic salaries and 7.5% of annual basic salaries for officers of Gl 01, Gl08 and Gl16 who are not court judges the MOU which was then signed by Abubakar Ladan is not acted upon by the state government.” He said.
He mentioned that, the industrial action in addition is to force government to secure judiciary staff in Zuru Emirate who are being harrassed by local vigilante “yan sa kai” according to him the dreaded yan sa kai often times truncates court proceedings by ordering the judge at gun point to stop proceedings considered inimical to them.
He urged the state government to secure all judges and judiciary staff in Kebbi state.
He thanked his members for standing by the union.
