Godwin Iheabunike, the National Secretary-General of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, said on Thursday that the members are not “strike hungry”, but only want the Federal Government to address their grievances.
Iheabunike, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja, said the association has already begun consultations with relevant stakeholders on the issue.
NAN reports that members of LOAN are lawyers employed by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
They issued a 21-day strike notice, which expires February 1 on the need to address their grievances dating back to over 20 years.
They claimed that states implemented a circular issued by the Body of Attorneys-General in 1994, calling for enhanced salaries for law officers.
However, LOAN said the Federal Government failed to implement same circular for its own lawyers.
The secretary said that with the way the consultations were going, there would be no need for an industrial action.
He said: “We have been consulting with the management and other stakeholders on the matter.
“So the law officers are not strike-conscious or hungry for strike.
“We are believing and trusting God that these meetings will yield positive results and at the end of the day, there won’t be any need to embark on an industrial action.
“It is quite impressive.
“We have met with the Attorney-General, the Nigeria Bar Association President and the Head of Service.
“We are hoping that if all these discussions yield positive results, there will be no reason to go on strike.”
Peter Akper, the Special Assistant to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, also told NAN that the ministry held meetings with the aggrieved workers.
Akper said the situation was under control and there would be no need for the workers to embark on strike.
NAN.
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