By Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Abia State government has announced the commencement of reforms in its judiciary, in line with Governor Alex Otti’s electioneering promises in 2023.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Umuahia after the weekly Executive Council (EXCO) meeting presided over by Governor Otti.
Kanu stated that the ongoing judicial reforms include the construction of court buildings across the 17 Local Government Areas, the regular payment of salaries, and the digitisation of the judicial system to enhance justice delivery.
He noted that the reforms are aimed at making the Abia judiciary 21st-century compliant.
Speaking on the matter, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said all concerns raised by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) regarding the new minimum wage have been addressed.
He added that judicial staff are expected to begin receiving their salaries, paving the way for the industrial action to be called off.
Uwanna explained that the agreement reached with JUSUN was multi-pronged and not solely based on the payment of the new minimum wage, which has already been implemented.
“The agreement we had with JUSUN is that they will resume immediately they receive their payment. I believe that by tomorrow (Wednesday), the judiciary will resume operations,” the commissioner enthused.