The Cross River chapter of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), on Monday, resumed its suspended industrial action over government’s failure to meet its demands.
The association said as at midnight Sunday, Feb. 8, the State Government had failed to meet with the association to avert the industrial action.
It would be recalled that MAN had on Feb. 2 issued notice of strike to the government.
In the letter, signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Godwin Onah and Solomon Abuo, the magistrates noted that the decision to resume the suspended strike was taken at its general meeting of Jan. 30.
The group alleged that government reneged on its earlier promise that led to the suspension of the industrial action.
“Your Excellency can recall that magistrates in Cross River, under the auspices of MAN, the state chapter had resolved to embark on an indefinite strike to press home our demands.
“You recall that upon your personal intervention, through a meeting you held with the association in Nov. 2024, where you promised to act on our demands, we decided to suspend the strike to give you room to address our demands,” it stated.
It thanked the governor for implementing the first item on the list of its demands, bordering on the immediate implementation of promotion and the regularisation of magistrates in the state with necessary financial benefits across all cadres.
It, however, regretted the “lack of attention to the remaining items on the list of demands”.
According to the group, the situation was causing so much disaffection and hardship to its members, in view of how important they are to its security, welfare, and the smooth and efficient administration of justice in the state.
“In view of the foregoing, we have resolved to resume the suspended indefinite strike at the expiration of seven days from today.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the said indefinite strike shall be resumed on Monday, 9th Feb. without further notice.
“We hope and pray that Your Excellency will attend to our demands with despatch to forestall the looming indefinite strike,” it concluded.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the magistrates’ demands included a request for the government to effect promotion for its members that had remained stagnant since 2015.
The magistrates also decried the N15,000 monthly imprest paid to them, describing it as paltry, when compared to magistrates in neighbouring states that reportedly receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.
While also demanding for the rehabilitation of magistrate courts across the state, the association further frowned at the government’s failure to provide its members with official vehicles.
Meanwhile, the group’s secretary confirmed to NAN that the government met with their leadership on Monday morning to resolve the contending issues.
Abuo said that the government officials were led by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Emmanuel Ironbar, and the Attorney-General of the state, Ededem Ani.
He, however, said the association was still awaiting government’s pronouncement based on the outcome of the meeting.
“Yes, we met with the government today, and it told us to give it time to put heads together to come out with something.
“As we speak, we are waiting for them, and their response will determine if the strike will go on or not,” Abuo said.
