Enugu Law Officers Begin Seven Days Strike Over Salary Cuts, Unpaid Allowances

ENUGU, NIGERIA - Law officers in Enugu State under the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Enugu State Chapter, have commenced a seven-day warning strike over alleged salary reductions, unpaid allowances and what they describe as years of neglect by the state government.

The industrial action took effect at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, disrupting official legal duties across courts, government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as correctional centres in the state.

LOAN announced the action in a statement titled “A Call For Justice For Law Officers Of Enugu State”, accompanied by a strike notice signed by the association’s Chapter Chairman and Secretary, K.P. Onyia and M.O. Onyeze.

Law Officers Cite Years of Unresolved Grievances

The lawyers said they had been working under what they described as harsh and increasingly difficult conditions, alleging that the situation deteriorated in 2020 when their salaries were reduced and hazard allowances were completely withdrawn.

They also alleged that the removal of certain allowances has forced some law officers to use personal funds to execute official government assignments.

“These are not issues that have suddenly emerged. Series of correspondences, representations and engagements have been made to the Government over time, drawing attention to these concerns and seeking meaningful intervention,” the association said.

According to LOAN, those efforts have so far failed to produce what it considers a satisfactory resolution.

The association said its demands are intended to address longstanding disparities in the remuneration, benefits and welfare of state law officers.

Six Key Demands

In its strike notice dated September 30, 2026, LOAN listed six principal demands:

• Full harmonisation of law officers’ remuneration with that of magistrates.

• Payment of members’ Bar Practising Fees.

• Payment of members’ Annual Bar Conference fees.

• Full restoration and payment of transportation allowance, including arrears.

• Full restoration and payment of hazard allowance, including arrears.

• Full restoration and payment of wardrobe allowance, including arrears.

The association said the demands reflect what it considers basic professional and welfare obligations owed to lawyers serving the state.

Legal Services Suspended Across Government Operations

As part of the strike, LOAN directed state counsel working under the Ministry of Justice, government departments and liaison offices to immediately withdraw from official legal duties.

Members were instructed to stay away from courts, correctional centres, police stations and other law-enforcement agencies when carrying out official assignments.

The association’s notice stated that law officers in Abuja and Lagos liaison offices, Government House and other ministries, departments and agencies should not attend court, visit correctional facilities or police and other law-enforcement agencies in furtherance of government business during the seven-day action.

The notice added that members were expected to work from home or refrain from government-related duties in accordance with the association’s collective resolution.

“We hope that this brief period will enable the authorities to do the needful,” the association stated.

‘This Is Not Merely About Allowances’

LOAN said the dispute goes beyond individual allowances, arguing that it concerns the professional standing, remuneration and welfare of lawyers responsible for representing the state and providing legal services to government institutions.

“This is not merely about allowances. It is about fairness, professional dignity, appropriate remuneration and the welfare of those who serve the State,” the association said.

It added:

“A just system must care for those who administer justice.”

The association urged the Enugu State Government to address its demands during the warning period, saying the industrial action was intended to compel attention to issues it described as longstanding.

Government Yet to Respond

Globalvoice contacted the Enugu State Government for its response to the strike and the allegations made by the law officers.

However, Commissioner for Information Malachy Agbo did not answer calls or respond to a text message seeking the government’s position as of the time of filing this report.

The seven-day warning strike is expected to test the government’s willingness to engage with the law officers’ demands while potentially affecting official legal representation and other government related judicial activities across Enugu State.