Ministry of Justice lawyers begin 3-day warning strike

LAWYERS in the Federal Ministry of Justice yesterday began a three-day warning strike to demand for an improvement in their condition of service. 

Chairman of the Abuja branch of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Yusuf Abdulkadir, stated this on Sunday in Abuja. 

    He stressed that the warning strike was in furtherance of the association’s 21-day industrial action notice which ended Sunday.

   Abdulkadir, who is also the national Vice President of the association added that his members held series of meetings with the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Head of Service, DanladiKifasi and others without reaching amicable agreement.

   He noted that the discussions were a welcome development, but regreted that “they turned out to be promises and did not translate into concrete agreements or approval of all or any of our demands.”

   The association is demanding 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, Solomon Ibhadon, who was also at the briefing expressed solidarity with the striking workers, vowing that lawyers in public service will continue to press for a uniform salary structure for law officers in the public service.

Ibhadon urged the Federal Government to grant the demand of LOAN members as a lasting legacy of the present administration.