Lawyers begin warning strike in Plateau

Lawyers in the employ of Plateau State Ministry of Justice began a one-week warning strike yesterday.They are demanding the payment of allowances, court appearance dues, transportation to convey them to court, laptops and other facilities to ease their job.

They also lamented the dilapidated nature of area inspectorate offices of the ministry located in Pankshin, Langtang, Shendam, Barkin Ladi and other areas.

Led by the state chairman of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria and the Assistant Director, Public Prosecutions, Mr. John Ataivan, the protesting legal officers complained about the lack of basic facilities to ease the dispensation of justice in the state.

According to them: “It is unfair for a counsel to appear and defend a state in court in borrowed robes. The government lawyer will go on the street begging and taking ‘okada’ or ‘Keke Napep’ when his counterpart in the private sector is riding a posh car.”

They expressed disappointment that the Simon Lalong administration headed by a former speaker of the state House of Assembly and a lawyer was not responding to the demands for better welfare from the workers in the justice ministry.

In his response, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Jonathan Mawiyau debunked the allegations, saying that the lawyers did not follow due process in presenting their demands.He said he had contacted the governor concerning some of the issues for the government’s attention.