The Rivers State Chapter of the Judicial Staff Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has withdrawn from the ongoing nationwide strike action that has run into its second month now.

Kristina Reports checks revealed that work has resumed though at skeletal mode at the Rivers State High Court as well as other courts in the State.

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Our correspondent, who visited some of the courts this morning in Port Harcourt, reports that workers were seen walking into their offices and ready for work.

This may not be unconnected with the threat of the State Governor, Nyesom Wike to impose a No-work-no-pay policy from this month of June should the workers remain on strike.

Sources disclosed to Kristina Reports that the decision to call off the strike was taken at an extraordinary meeting between JUSUN and the newly sworn in Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, and representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State, amongst other stakeholders.

Wike had claimed that he has allowed unrestricted judicial autonomy to the State Judiciary and questioned why the State Chapter of JUSUN will embark on a strike action when the reason for the strike does not apply in the state.

The Rivers State Governor made this assertions while speaking at a commissioning ceremony of Residential Quarters for judges of the Industrial Court in Port Harcourt recently.

Speaking at the event, Wike challenged the State Judiciary to come up with proofs that he has not allowed them financial autonomy, alleging that the Federal Government is insincere about granting financial autonomy to the Judiciary.

He further noted that what is required for the Federal Government to show sincerity on its part and not be coercing State Governments to implement the law when they themselves have not shown good example.

He expressed his readiness to stop payment of salaries of all workers who refused to resume work in June.

All efforts to get the reaction of the State Chairman of JUSUN, Anthony Nwachukwu to speak on this latest development were unsuccessful as he was yet to respond to messages and calls sent to him as at the time of filling this report.

With this development, the judicial space in the State would now be open to several activities that would ease the criminal and civil justice system such as resolution of legal processes involving persons incarcerated either in police cells or the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, Dockyard, Bundu-Ama, Port Harcourt.

Other positive aspects would be the revenue generation drive in the judicial sector including the State Ministry of Justice, State High Court, State Magistrate and Senior Magistrate Courts, State Customary Appeal Courts and Customary Courts, among others.

Some litigants who spoke off the record with Kristina Reports expressed happiness over the development, saying the matters they have in various courts can now receive expedited attention.