Resume or Be Sacked, Ebonyi Threatens Workers
The Ebonyi State Government has ordered members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria in the state, to immediately suspended 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 defiled Governor David Umahi’s threat in a recent state function, to sack the members if they embarked on the strike.
The government’s order for the strike’s suspension is 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 considers the strike as an act of sabotage that 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 a salary increase at this time when the state’s revenue is on the steady decline is unpatriotic.”