The Untold Hardship of Benue Workers
For over a month, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Benue State Chapter, has been on strike, with the state government showing little concern for the crisis. This prolonged impasse has crippled the judiciary, leading to widespread injustice, economic stagnation, and hardship across the state.
Detainees in overcrowded detention facilities have no access to justice as courts remain closed. Those awaiting trial are trapped in indefinite confinement, while unresolved business disputes continue to frustrate entrepreneurs and investors. For a state already battling economic hardships, this judicial paralysis only deepens the challenges.
The situation is worsened by the Alia-led administration’s lack of meaningful engagement. Arbitrary actions, including the unlawful sealing of businesses, have added to the chaos. Without functioning courts, affected business owners are left without recourse, and the collapse of this vital institution leaves citizens unprotected and vulnerable.
The administration’s response is glaringly inadequate. Instead of addressing the root causes of the crisis, it resorts to superficial publicity stunts and token gestures aimed at misleading the public. Many remain unaware of the strike’s full implications due to the government’s deliberate efforts to downplay the situation. This neglect reflects a fundamental betrayal of governance principles.
Judiciary staff, who have gone unpaid for months, now struggle to feed their families during this festive season. This mistreatment of public servants is a damning indictment of the state government’s priorities and its disregard for workers’ welfare.
Dr. James Terfa, a respected academic, aptly summarized the state of affairs, describing Governor Alia’s administration as one defined by “political indiscipline and a lack of genuine leadership.” He further criticized the governor’s leadership style, describing it as “deceit and pretense by the man on cassock,” echoing the frustrations of disillusioned citizens. The administration’s focus on appearances rather than substantive action has left the people to endure the consequences of poor leadership.
The escalating crisis requires urgent intervention from the national leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The struggles of judiciary staff, detainees, business owners, and ordinary citizens must not be ignored. The world needs to witness the neglect, incompetence, and suffering caused by the Alia administration.
Benue State is now plagued by lawlessness, with no functional judiciary to provide justice and protect rights. If immediate action is not taken to resolve the strike, restore the judiciary, and address workers’ grievances, the Alia administration risks being remembered as a symbol of failure and despair. The people of Benue deserve better.
