Cross River Magistrates Feel Neglected, Issues 7 Days Ultimatum Or Down Tools

By Godwin Ajom

The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River State chapter, has resolved to embark on an indefinite industrial action in the next 7 days, due to what the association describes as the failure of the government to affect the promotion of Magistrates since 2015.

Poor welfare of Magistrates, lack of official vehicles for Magistrates since 2012; payment of N15,000 monthly imprest that is said to be inadequate and several other issues, are fingered to be reasons behind the ultimatum.

Other issues the Benchers highlighted include failure of government to pay Magistrates yearly robing allowance as applicable in other jurisdictions nationwide, lack of in-service training and retraining of Magistrates; non-payment of earned and accrued two years salary arrears for some categories of Magistrates.

MAN gave the threat in a communique addressed to Governor Bassey Otu, at the end of a general meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, where they also warned that failure of the government to hear their prayers and grant the demands within seven days, would leave them with no option but to embark on a warning industrial action for two weeks in line with the extant labor laws with effect from Wednesday 13th November, 2024, by “withdrawing our services across the State at the first instance, and subsequently embarking on an indefinite strike action until our demands are fully attended to.”

The State Chairman of MAN, Godwin Onah told CrossRiverWatch that: “The meeting here is predicted upon the refusal of some people who want to stand in the clock of the will of progress of magistracy in the area of our welfare and well-being; the issues of promotions, our own through the judicial service commission, have unanimously carried out their responsibility and have been sent to the governor, who has in turn minuted it to the chief judge of Cross River State, sequel to which the Chief judge minuted
it to the accountant general yet, till now nothing has been done.

“So, due to the inaction, there has been a serious backlash on me due to the inaction all these while. We called our members to brief them of the steps taken so far, and a resolution has been reached and a communique issued, that within a given time, if their demands aren’t met, they are necessarily going to down tools, but due process must be followed before any action.”

Also speaking, Solomon Abuo, Secretary of MAN, Cross River State Chapter, shared same sentiment that, “we have decided to notify the government and give them an opportunity and timeline to respond to our demands, if they fail to do that, as a last resort, we will proceed on strike.”