LOAN rejects Kwara State ‘no work, no pay’ threat, supports striking law officers

A union rejects Kwara State’s ‘no work, no pay’ threat against striking law officers, warning of nationwide action if the Kwara strike dispute isn’t resolv Read More: https://punchng.com/union-rejects-kwaras-no-work-no-pay-threat-backs-striking-lawyers/

The National Executive Council of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN) has condemned the Kwara State Government’s threat to enforce the “no work, no pay” policy against striking law officers, warning that the dispute could escalate into nationwide industrial action if not resolved through dialogue.LOAN declared its full support for members of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice, who are on indefinite strike over unresolved welfare demands. The association described their grievance, including unpaid allowances and salary harmonisation as legitimate and long overdue.The Kwara government had earlier warned that lawyers who fail to resume work risk forfeiting their salaries, a stance that has heightened tensions. But LOAN, in a statement signed by National President Ernest Edomwonyi and National Secretary Adesoji A. A., insisted that threats would not solve the crisis.“Our colleagues in Kwara are pursuing genuine welfare demands which remain unresolved despite several engagements. The government must address these issues instead of resorting to threats capable of worsening the situation,” the statement read.The union cautioned that if Kwara fails to reconsider its position, law officers across Nigeria could be mobilised in solidarity.Among the demands of the striking lawyers are payment of outstanding furniture allowances, robe allowances for 2024–2026, harmonisation of salaries and allowances, and alignment of State Counsel conditions of service with those of Magistrates in line with a 2005 approval.Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, Saad Jimoh Muhammad, appealed to the government to embrace dialogue, stressing that prolonged disruption in the justice sector would harm litigants and the wider public.