Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has restated its commitment to honouring its agreement with the state’s chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN.
This is as Governor Alex Otti, would on Friday, flag off the construction of 13 kilometer Onuinya/Okporoenyi road in continuation of the road infrastructural transformation agenda of his administration.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who stated this during a press conference on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting, said Government would not renege on its part of the deal with JUSUN.
Kanu who said efforts were being intensified to pay members of the union their outstanding salary arrears, expressed confidence that the strike embarked upon by the union would soon be called off.
Recall that the State Government and JUSUN, last Thursday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, as part of efforts to resolve the dispute between both parties.
The Commissioner who said that all necessary papers were being finalised to get the Judiciary workers paid, added that “Gov. Alex Otti’s administration is irrevocably committed to honouring all the terms of the MOU.”
Kanu attributed the delay in payment to the paperwork involved in processing large sums involved.
He said: “You are all aware that just last Thursday, the State Government reached an agreement with JUSUN during which both parties signed an MOU.
“The State Government I must inform you is irrevocably committed to honouring all the terms of the MOU.
“Those whose mandate it is to effect all the payments agreed upon are working round the clock to do so. I want to reassure JUSUN and members of the public that his Excellency Dr Alex Otti is a man of his words and the same goes for his appointees.
“Of course, we’ve been able to establish the fact that we mean whatever we say, so since these two groups are together, negotiated and came to terms which culminated in the terms and signing of that MOU, I can assure you that maybe later today, when they check their accounts, they will see their alerts,” Prince Kanu assured.
The Commissioner said that the on-going construction of court buildings across the 17 Local Government Areas, and digitalisation of the Judicial system were geared towards enhancing justice delivery system in the state.
Contributing, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna, stated that all concerns raised by the Union regarding the new minimum wage had been addressed.
The Commissioner who said said that payment of the arrears was expected to begin today, expressed hope that the strike would be called off by JUSUN.
“The agreement we reached with JUSUN is multi-pronged, it is not just based on the payment of the New Minimum Wage which has already been effected.
“Members of the Judiciary received payment for November 2024. They will receive the rest of the number today.
“So that is too say that the payment process has commenced. To explain some of these things, there’s a bit of bureaucracy around how things happen.
“The agreement we had with JUSUN is that they will resume immediately they receive their payment.
“I believe that by tomorrow, the Judiciary will resume operations,“ Uwana said
Contributing, the Director General of Greater Aba Development Commission, GADA, Mr Uche Ukaeje, said the State Government would in February, sign an MoU with a foreign investor to revive Enyimba Hotels Aba, and turn it into a five-star hotel.
The project which he said would be realised in two years, would turn Aba into a preferred destination for tourists.
He added that the hotel which would have a 2500 -capacity conference hall, would equally be serving as venue for international trade exhibitions.
The GADA boss further said a lot of job opportunities would be created when the hotel was fully realised.
