Abia State Judiciary Staff Strike

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Nigeria===Abia State commenced an indefinite strike on March 15, 2026, over alleged non-payment of leave allowances and the government's failure to implement financial autonomy for the judiciary. The Nigeria===Abia State government, represented by Attorney General Ikechukwu Uwanna and Accountant General Njum Onyemanam, insists that leave bonuses are already included in the consolidated salary structure and has urged JUSUN to provide verifiable evidence to the contrary. The government has promised payment within 48 hours if proof is provided. Additionally, JUSUN's refusal to participate in a staff verification exercise is delaying pension payments for retired judiciary staff, raising concerns about ghost workers. The government views the timing of the strike, coinciding with the scheduled verification, as suspicious. JUSUN Chairman Chinedu Ezeh clarified that the primary reason for the strike is the lack of financial autonomy, not just the leave allowance dispute.