By Jefferson Ibiwale, Benin

The Edo State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, on Monday announced the suspension of its six-month-old strike.

It subsequently directed its members to resume work at their duty posts on Wednesday.

The protesting workers had earlier defied two separate directives by the State Judicial Service Commission to resume work or face outright dismissal from service.

It was gathered that the suspension of the industrial action followed the intervention of a committee headed by a judge, P. A. Akhihiero.

In a statement jointly signed by its national legal adviser/assistant secretary, P Nnamani, and the state chairman, Uyi Ogieriakhi, the union however said the suspension would last for one month.

It added that this would enable the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, meet up with their demands.

It also requested that no worker who took part in the strike would be victimized.

Those believed to have intervened in the faceoff between the workers and the state government include the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, David Edebiri, the Catholic Archbishop of Benin, Augustine Akubeze, the Anglican Bishop of Benin Diocese, Peter Imasuen; the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahagbon, as well some state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Nigeria Bar Association.

It would be recalled that judiciary workers in the state have been on strike since January, 5, 2015, over the unwillingness of the state government to implement a Federal High Court order which granted financial autonomy to the judiciary.

They were also protesting the non-payment of their July, 2014, and January, 2015 salaries.