Plateau judges threaten indefinite strike, give Lalong 14 days to pay allowances
A group under the aegis of Sharia, Area and Customary Court Judges Association of Nigeria (SACCJAN), Plateau State Chapter on Wednesday served Governor Simon Lalong with a 14-day ultimatum to pay their 9 years outstanding dressing allowances or will proceed on an indefinite sit down strike action.
The Judges in a letter signed by its Chairman, Hon. Ayuba Danzel and Secretary, Hon. Frank Lojok dated 23 May, 2017, and made available to journalists in Jos, lamented the discrimination in the payment of the said dressing allowances which their counterparts in the Ministry of Justice have been enjoying.
It reads, “We the entire Judges of the Lower Court Bench do unanimously give 14 days ultimatum for the payment of our outstanding dressing allowances which has not been paid for about nine years.
“In the event were our demands are not met within the said 14 days, we shall be left with no other option than to down tool and commence a sit down strike till our demands are complied with. This is with effect from 23 May, 2017.”
Reacting to the threat, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Dan Manjang appealed to the Judges to shelve their action and take the path of dialogue rather than embarking on sit down strike, saying their action would frustrate the judicial system.
Manjang noted that workers and pensioners have received their monthly salaries up to date and efforts were being made to settle all outstanding allowances of civil servants in the state.
He pleaded with them to be patient with the Governor as he has vowed to attend to all matters that concern public servants.
