Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has issued an ultimatum to striking workers in the Rivers judiciary, saying government would invoke the “no work; no pay” approach if they fail to return to work.
Wike who turned the valedictory ceremony held in honour of the outgoing State Chief Judge into a fighting ground said members of JUSUN have one month to call off the strike or face the wrath of his administration.
He said the Rivers State Government would not continue to pay workers who have abandoned their duty post to embark on strike.
JUSUN which is asking for financial autonomy for the judiciary has been on a nationwide strike for weeks.
Wike claimed that the Federal Government was inciting judicial workers to stand against State governments in a bid to earn popularity.
Governor Wike equally expressed disappointment over the attitude of certain lawyers whose names he did not mention, accusing them of using the NBA to perpetuate acts of destabilisation.
Governor Wike accused the lawyers, who may be serving at the helm of the NBA, of being in the habit of spreading fake news and striving to create bad blood between the executive and the judicial arm.
He said they were welcome to join the political fray instead of using the NBA as a shield.
The Governor took on FIDA for daring to engage in what he described as emotional blackmail over the choice of a succeeding Chief Judge, insisting it was wrong for female lawyers to travel that route.
Explaining that the outgoing Chief Judge is a female, Wike however lauded the occupant who is bowing out for the way and manner she ran the judiciary.
He said the State Government was proud of the contributions of the outgoing Chief Judge and gifted her with a retirement home, a bulletproof SUV and a patrol van.