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 described as prolonged neglect of their welfare by the state government.
The industrial action began at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, and has affected official legal duties across courts, ministries, departments and agencies, as well as correctional centres and other law enforcement institutions in the state.
LOAN announced the strike in a statement titled “A Call for Justice for Law Officers of Enugu State”, alongside a strike notice signed by the association’s Chairman and Secretary, K.P. Onyia and M.O. Onyeze.
The association alleged that its members had been working under difficult financial and professional conditions, saying the situation became worse in 2020 when their salaries were reduced and their hazard allowance was withdrawn.
According to the law officers, the removal of some allowances had also forced members to spend personal funds while carrying out official assignments for the state government.
The association said it had repeatedly communicated its concerns to the government through correspondence, representations and engagements, but claimed that those efforts had not produced a satisfactory resolution.
LOAN said the strike was intended to address what it described as longstanding disparities in the remuneration, welfare and professional treatment of state law officers.
SIX KEY DEMANDS
In its strike notice dated September 30, 2026, the association listed six major demands.
They include the:
- 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.
As part of the industrial action, LOAN directed all state counsel serving under the Ministry of Justice, government departments and liaison offices to immediately suspend official legal representation on behalf of the state.
Members were also instructed to stay away from courts, correctional centres, police stations and other law enforcement agencies when performing official duties.
The association stated that the seven-day warning strike would run for seven juridical days beginning from 12am on Friday, October 2.
It further directed law officers in the Abuja and Lagos liaison offices, Government House and various ministries, departments and agencies not to attend court, visit correctional centres or police stations, or undertake other official government legal assignments during the strike.
LOAN described the action as more than a dispute over allowances, arguing that it also concerned the professional dignity, remuneration and welfare of officers responsible for providing legal services to the Enugu State Government.
“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.
The law officers appealed to the state government to address their grievances, stressing that the warning strike was intended to draw attention to their concerns and encourage authorities to take appropriate action.
As of the time of filing the report, the Enugu State Government had not publicly responded to the strike.
Efforts to obtain the government’s reaction were unsuccessful, as the Commissioner for Information, Malachy Agbo, reportedly did not answer calls or respond to a text message seeking the government’s position.
