By Emmanuel Kwada
A crisis is brewing in the federal judiciary, with workers at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) threatening to go on strike due to poor working conditions and unfulfilled welfare promises. The workers have issued a warning to the federal government, citing several unresolved issues, including the non-implementation of salary increases and other welfare packages.
Two letters, addressed to the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) at the Customary Court of Appeal, highlight the workers’ grievances, including the non-payment of a 25-35% salary increase, a N35,000 wage award, and the N70,000 minimum wage at NICN.
The situation is particularly dire at the NICN in Benin City, where workers have not received the promised wage increases or the minimum wage
The situation is particularly dire at the NICN in Benin City, where workers have not received the promised wage increases or the minimum wage. Many are lamenting receiving only “peanuts” as Christmas bonuses. One worker, speaking anonymously, explained that the government had yet to implement the minimum wage for NICN staff, and their DTA for a recent promotion examination remained unpaid. The worker also criticized the lack of union activity at the national level, with JUSUN’s efforts mainly focused on state-level issues, leaving federal workers’ concerns largely ignored.
This is not an isolated incident, as similar concerns have been raised by workers at the Legal Aid Commission, who threatened to go on strike over poor working conditions and neglect. The commission’s staff have been operating from overcrowded and dilapidated offices, leading to growing frustration among its staff.
The lack of adequate facilities and attention to workers’ welfare is a common thread in both cases, highlighting the need for urgent attention from the government to address these concerns and prevent a strike that could have far-reaching consequences for the judiciary and the country as a whole.
