The Kwara State chapter of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) has given a 14-day notice of a 3-day warning strike over the backlog allowances of the association.
In a letter written to the state governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, which was jointly signed by its chairperson, Medinat Adebisi (Mrs) and its secretary Samuel Olusegun Dada, Esq., said the association concluded on the plan following a meeting held on 26 February 2024 where it deliberated on the extent to which its demands from the State Government have been attended to, bothering on the welfare of its members, which yielded no result.
The statement reads in part, “Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Kwara State Chapter, the umbrella body of Counsel in the Kwara State Ministry of Justice held a meeting on 26 February 2024 where it deliberated on the extent to which its demands from the State Government have been attended to, particularly those bothering on the welfare of its members and the possible next line of action having exhausted all avenues to make the State Government attend to their plights.”
The statement, however, noted that despite a series of letters of appeal to the State Government since 2020 till date for the payment of those allowances which Counsel has hitherto been enjoying, “the Government remained implacable and indifferent to their demands despite the pivotal role they have been playing in this administration which among others include: risk of confronting criminals in court every day, generating fund through vetting of contract agreements, drafting of bills, prosecution of tax defaulters to recover tax liabilities, tackling gender-based violence against persons, giving legal advice to MDAs, rendering of legal services to indigent citizens and mediating in civil matters.”
The statement furthered that “it is against this backdrop that we are constrained to give this 14-day notice of a 3-day warning strike, commencing from 4 March 2024 and to lapse on 17th March 2024 (both days inclusive) to press home our demands with a view to securing the attention of the State Government.”
These demands are as follows:
i. payment of 2020 furniture allowance,
ii. harmonization of salaries of State Counsel with those of Magistrates in Kwara State Judiciary in line with harmonization approval, 2005
iii. payment of 2023 and 2024 wardrobe allowances,
iv. payment of 2023 NBA Annual Conference fee, and
v. payment of 2024 Bar Practicing fee.
The association, however, appealed to Governor AbdulRazaq to meet their demand before the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum, adding that failure to do so would have no other option than to proceed on a 3-day warning strike after which the association would proceed on an indefinite strike in the event the situation remains the same.