Tensions Rise in Benue: Judiciary Staff Strike Over Wage Disputes

For over a month now, the judiciary activities in Benue State have come to a complete standstill, as the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) continues its indefinite strike. The action was triggered in December of the previous year, following the state government’s failure to implement the new minimum wage for judicial workers.

As of Tuesday, the courts remain locked, with numerous pending cases left unattended. The strike has effectively crippled judicial operations, leaving many without access to the courts.

JUSUN’s Secretary, Terna Jooli, voiced frustration at the government’s inaction regarding the payment of peculiar allowances and the implementation of the new minimum wage introduced in November 2024. Jooli criticized the state’s approach, noting that despite agreements made in 2010, the government has failed to honor these terms. Instead, workers in lower salary brackets are being offered just N45,000, while those in higher brackets are offered N65,000, which Jooli deemed unacceptable.

The union leader also emphasized the lack of meaningful dialogue, stating, “We have not received the new minimum wage since November, and the government is not engaging us in any discussions.”

Attempts by the press to reach the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Fidelis Mnyim, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls.

However, Dr. Agbogbo Ode, the State Head of Service, offered a different perspective. He attributed the delay in the implementation of the new wage structure to the Ministry of Justice’s tardiness in providing the necessary information. He clarified that all workers, including those in the judiciary, were meant to be included in the new wage structure effective from November. The delay, he argued, stemmed from the judiciary’s late submission of necessary requests and unresolved disagreements with the technical committee over financial figures.