C’River magistrates to resume indefinite strike February 9

The Cross River chapter of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria has announced plans to resume its indefinite strike on February 9, following the state government’s failure to meet their demands.

The notice of the strike is contained in a letter dated February 2, issued in Calabar on Tuesday.

In the letter signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Godwin Onah and Solomon Abuo, respectively, the magistrates said the decision to resume the suspended strike was taken at their general meeting held on January 30,.

The association stated that the government reneged on earlier promises, which had led to the suspension of the industrial action.

Your Excellency can recall that upon your personal intervention through a meeting you held with the association in November 2024, where you promised to act on our demands, we decided to suspend the strike action to give you room to address our demands.

“While we thank you for implementing the first item on our list of demands, which is the immediate implementation of promotion and the regularization of magistrates in Cross River State with necessary financial benefits across all cadres, the lack of attention to the remaining items on the list is causing so much disaffection and hardship for our members in view of how important they are to our security, welfare, and the smooth and efficient administration of justice in our dear state.

“In view of the foregoing, we have resolved to resume the suspended indefinite strike action at the expiration of seven days from today

For the avoidance of doubt, the said indefinite strike action shall be resumed on Feb. 9 without further notice.

“We hope and pray that Your Excellency will attend to our demands with dispatch to forestall the looming indefinite strike action,” the association said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that key demands include a 50 per cent remuneration increase, official vehicles, accommodation, renovation of court facilities, and payment of 2019 salary arrears.

The magistrates also decried the payment of N15,000 as monthly impress allowance, compared to magistrates in neighbouring states who receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.

They further demanded the immediate implementation of promotion and regularisation of magistrates in the state with necessary financial benefits across all cadres, as well as the payment of all accrued arrears.

(NAN)