Judiciary workers, operating under the aegis ofthe Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), have suspended their eight-month-old industrial action in Rivers State.

National Publicity Secretary ofthe union, Comrade Kayode Igbarago, made this known in Port Harcourt, yesterday and further directed all members to resume work immediately on Monday.

The judiciary workers in the state had embarked on strike since last July, following an impasse between the state government and the National Judicial Council (NJC) over the appointment of a substantive chief judge for the state.

Igbarago, during a briefing with newsmen, warned that the judiciary workers in the state should not be victimised for the industrial action.

He said the decision to call off the strike, which had been under the supervision and control of theJUSUN national secretariat since July 9, 2014, was the outcome of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held at the Supreme Court, Abuja, last Monday.

“The national body has, after careful investigation, been convinced that the state branch has not compromised the struggle in any form.

“The interest and intervention of various stakeholders, particularly the Rivers State government, who have made themselves available in virtually all the meetings, the NBA, both at the national and state levels, who have been committed in facilitating the various meetings, the NLC, civil rights groups, the Senator Cyrus Nunieh-led mediatory committee and others were also considered.”

He further added that, “We also urge our members to remain resolute to the struggle, while we appreciate all who have in one way or the other assisted in the facilitation of the resolution of the crises.”

Reacting to the suspension of the strike, chairman of JUSUN, Rivers State branch, Comrade Sokari George, described it as a welcome development, adding that the announcement came as a surprise to their members.

Adapted from Sunday Tribune