Law officers in Enugu State have begun a seven-day warning strike over alleged salary reductions, unpaid professional fees and outstanding allowances, escalating a dispute over their remuneration and working conditions.
The industrial action commenced at midnight on Friday, October 2, 2026, following a directive by the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Enugu State Chapter. The association said the decision followed prolonged attempts to secure government intervention through correspondence and engagements that, according to its members, had not produced a satisfactory resolution.
In a strike notice signed by the association’s state chairman, K.P. Onyia, and secretary, M.O. Onyeze, the law officers alleged that their salaries were reduced in 2020 and that their hazard allowances were subsequently withdrawn. They also complained that members had been required to use personal funds to carry out official assignments.
The association said the outstanding issues had placed additional financial pressure on its members and called for action to address what it described as longstanding disparities in their remuneration and welfare.
Among its demands is the harmonisation of law officers’ remuneration with that of magistrates. The association is also seeking payment of members’ Bar Practising Fees and annual Nigerian Bar Association conference fees.
Other demands include the restoration and payment of transportation, hazard and wardrobe allowances, together with outstanding arrears. The association maintains that these entitlements are necessary to improve the working conditions of officers responsible for providing legal services to the state.
As part of the industrial action, LOAN directed state counsel working in the Ministry of Justice, government ministries, departments and agencies, Government House, and liaison offices in Abuja and Lagos to suspend official duties during the strike period.
The directive also instructed members to refrain from attending court, visiting correctional centres or police stations, or undertaking official business with other law enforcement agencies. The association said its members should work from home rather than carry out government assignments during the warning strike.
The withdrawal of official legal services could affect government representation in court and other legal duties ordinarily performed by state counsel during the strike. The extent of any disruption will depend on the services affected and whether the dispute is resolved within the announced period.
The association described the action as a warning intended to draw attention to its members’ concerns and give the authorities an opportunity to address their demands. It expressed hope that the government would take the necessary steps to resolve the dispute during the seven-day period.
The strike comes amid broader discussions about remuneration, professional welfare and the working conditions of public-sector legal personnel. However, the association’s allegations about salary reductions and unpaid benefits remain its stated position, and a detailed government response to the current dispute was not available in the reports reviewed.
The immediate question is whether the state government and the association can reach an agreement before the warning strike ends. A resolution could avert further industrial action, while failure to address the outstanding issues could prolong uncertainty over the delivery of some government legal services in Enugu State.
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