By Patrick Obia
Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Cross River State chapter has given the State Government a 21 days ultimatum to look into their poor welfare or face indefinite strike action.
LOAN gave the warning in a letter signed by its Chairman, Akwagiobe Richard Akpanke Esq, and addressed to Governor Ben Ayade, Head of Service – Timothy Ogban, and Commissioner for Justice – Tanko Ashang, SAN, where the Association highlighted disparity as some of the major challenges they face and may lead to down tools.
They are also demanding the implementation of a 50% increment in the salary of Law Officers as is currently implemented for the magisterial cadre since June 2022 in accordance with the parity of remuneration of salaries and benefits between the law officers and the magisterial cadre.
The Law Officers are also praying for payment of a special allowance tagged “Litigation Allowance” in the sum of N100,000 to each Law Officer monthly to obviate expenses incurred in litigation for the State.
The Association warned that failure to meet these demands, on or before the 21 days of expiration, they will not hesitate to down tools.
“Therefore after waiting for almost a full year since the implementation of the increment and after exhausting all appeals on the subject, it is the resolution of the law officers of the State that a 21-day notice be served Government for the full implementation of the demands of the law officers for the 50% increment in salary hitherto extended to the magisterial cadre for which implementation has gone on since June 2022.
“Additionally, the Law officers are demanding a special Allowance called “Litigation Allowance”, the justification for this allowance is because, in the past eight years, Law Officers have been saddled with the cost of prosecuting matters in court either defending the government or prosecuting offenders in the public interest, without any form of support from Government.
“There are about 90 courts spread across the length and breadth of the state with the Calabar metropolis housing about 40 of those. Law Officers are now compelled to type and file all court processes in addition to traversing the entire state from Calabar to Yala defending costs running into billions of Naira against the state all from the meager salaries currently paid to us. This is not only unjust but downright unconscionable for employees to spend an average of 30% of their salaries on court processes and travel.
“Consequently, it is imperative to demand that a special allowance tagged “Litigation Allowance” in the sum of N100,000 be paid to each Law Officer monthly to meet these needs.
“Further, we notify that at the expiration of 21 days from the delivery of this memorandum to Your Excellency, Law Officers shall withdraw their services indefinitely. We urge Your Excellency to weigh in on this matter to avert undue industrial tension with attendant disruptive consequences on the Justice sector of the State.
“Your Excellency may therefore wish to exercise his executive powers to end the privations of law officers and save the State needless hardship that will be occasioned by our strike action by directing the bureaucracy to immediately effect the following…,” part of the statement reads.
