Exclusive Interview: JUSUN: Unending Battles Over Minimum Wage

Comr. David Terna Jooli is the Secretary, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue State Branch. He spoke to THE TRANSMITTER on a variety of issues concerning the recent industrial action embarked upon by the Benue State Branch of JUSUN, arising from disagreement with the Benue State Government over the new minimum wage. Excerpts:

 

May we meet sir?

My name is Comrade David Terna Jooli the Secretary, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue State Branch.

Your Union in the State have been on Strike for the past Six weeks, what informed your sudden down of tools in the last few weeks?

We perceived some level of injustice meted against the judiciary staff concerning the payment of the N 75,000 minimum wage by the Benue State Government (BNG). The indifference and complicated maneuver executed by the state government did not go down well with us.  Recall, JUSUN in the state embarked on the strike so as to push the State government to implement the N75,000 minimum wage using its peculiar allowances.  While civil servants in the pool are enjoying the new minimum wage, the judiciary which is the third arm of government is being isolated.

 

Can you take us through some of the issues you said are complicated maneuvering?

Let me take this moment to fill you in on a certain agreement that we entered into with the Benue State government.  This will give you a clearer picture of the whole scenario. In 2010, JUSUN entered into an agreement with the state government which resulted to our members being paid allowances contained in the Judicial Unified Salary Structure (JUSS). This has been on prior to the coming on board of this administration. We were, however, quite surprised when the new minimum wage of N 75,000 was paid to other civil servants in the state and the judiciary staff were excluded.

You alleged that you were not paid the new minimum wage of N 75,000, what were your members paid?

Unfortunately, we are still been paid the old N 30,000 minimum wage to staff on salary grade level 1- 6. while staff on salary grade level Seven (7) and above are still receiving their old minimum wage of N18,000. Upon enquiries on why we were not paid the new minimum wage, the state government, through the Head of Service Dr. Agbogbo Ode, shockingly offered N45,000 to staff on salary grade level 1-6, and N57,000 to staff on salary grade level Seven and above, he further revealed to us that the agreement reached by Benue State Government and JUSUN in 2010, as earlier stated, can no longer be honoured, adding that it does not supersede the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This decision took us by surprise and we threatened to down tool.

 

So, what further steps were taken by Government when your members threaten to down tool?

After the meeting with the Head of Service, where we threatened to down tools, the government began to invite us for a series of meetings, one of which was in the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), we stated our grievances and in responding to us, the Government said that before JUSUN would start enjoying the new minimum wage, the allowances contained in the Judicial Unified Salary Structure (JUSS) entered into with the Benue State Government (BNG) 2010 will be removed.

 

Apart from the meeting with the Head of Service and the one mentioned in the office of the SSG, were there any other meetings between JUSUN and BSG before the strike?

Of Course, there were other meetings held thereafter, the first meeting between JUSUN and BNG was held in the office of the SSG on 21st October, 2024, that was before the strike.  The second meeting was held on the 22nd of October, 2024 still in the SSG’s office. There was also a third meeting held on the 5th of November 2024 and also another one held on the 13th of November, all at the SSG’s office.

 

What has been the outcome of those meetings mentioned?

Unfortunately, these meetings ended in a deadlock. The Benue State Government is only willing to pay the basic salary of 52,000 with N 23,000 as allowances making it up to N 75,000 without further allowances. This does not go down very well with us because our union falls into the category of essential service providers with a distinct salary structure, and in the face of the harsh economic realities, keeping us still on the old minimum wage is not what we were praying for.

 

So, when did you Union finally down-tooled?

We embarked on the strike on the 6th of December after the meetings between JUSUN and BNG were held in the office of the SSG on 21st October, 2024, 22nd of October, 2024 and 5th of November 2024 and 13th of November all in the SSG’s office that ended in deadlock.

 

Is the National body of JUSUN aware of the strike?

Of course, we are acting in compliance with the directive of the national body pursuant to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) circular, which states that any state government that fails to implement the 70,000 minimum wage on or before the 2nd day of December, 2024 will have to contend with strike action, workers and members of JUSUN acted accordingly.

 

What would you say is the general feeling among your members now?

They feel very bad, especially with the attendant hardships that are there for all to see, that is why we are adamant that the 2010 agreement be complied with, and we call on the State Government to do the needful.