Litigants and their lawyers went home disappointed on Wednesday following the indefinite strike declared by the Imo State leadership of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
At the State High Court premises, in Owerri at about 10am, the judicial workers deserted their duty posts in their offices, while litigants grouped up to bemoan their plight.
An informed source said the indefinite workers’ strike would worsen the bad congestion in Imo Judiciary because of lack of adequate numbers of judges to adjudicate over the numerous matters. By implication, awaiting trial cases would make suspects remain in jail until the labour crisis is over.
The aggrieved workers downed tools because, according to their grievances, Imo State Governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha refused or is unwilling to comply with the ruling of the Federal High Court judgment on the financial autonomy of the Judiciary.
JUSUN explained in a statement that their action stemmed from the state government’s inability to respond to their legitimate demands.
The union consequently directed all the offices of the courts and the State Judicial Service Commission, to remain under lock and key until further notice.
Simultaneously, the State House of Assembly was also locked down by its aggrieved workers over their five months’ salary arrears.
The workers under the umbrella of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), appealed to the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace, Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna to intervene on their behalf.
They told the Archbishop that their pains were excruciating and wondered why the governor was threatening to transfer them, not just away from the Assembly, but into the rural communities as punishment.
Sam Onwuemeodo, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, could not be reached to speak on the workers’ complaints at the time of filing this report.
