The crisis rocking the nation’s judiciary has taken the turn for the worse, as lawyers employed by the Federal Ministry of Justice today commenced a three-day warning strike to press home their demands for improved staff welfare.
Chairman of the Abuja branch of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, LOAN, Comrade Yusuf Abdulkadir in a press briefing yesterday in Abuja said the strike was in furtherance of the association’s 21-day industrial action notice which ended yesterday.
Abdulkadir, who is also the national vice president of the association, said his members held series of meetings with the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Head of Service, Danladi Kifasi and others but nothing came out of it.
According to him, though the discussions were a welcome development, “they turned out to be promises and did not translate into concrete agreements or approval of all or any of our demands.”
According to the association, LOAN is asking the Federal Government to address grievances dating back more than 20 years which include the implementation of a circular issued by the Body of Attorneys-General in 1994 calling for enhanced salaries for law officers. The circular has already been implemented by state governments across the country.
Other grievances include the payment of outstanding robe allowances and promotion arrears, peculiar allowances for purchase of books, law reports, hazard allowance, court appearance and car loans.
LOAN President, Comrade Solomon Ibhadon, speaking at the briefing, vowed that lawyers will continue to press for a harmonized salary structure for law officers in the public service.
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