Cross River magistrates issue 7-day strike ultimatum over stagnation, poor welfare

The Cross River’s Chapter of  Magistrates Association of Nigeria, on has issued a seven- day ultimatum to the state government to effect promotion of its stagnated members or face strike.

In a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Calabar on Wednesday , signed  by Godwin Onah and Solomon Abuo,, President and Secretary, the association said some Magistrates had been stagnated  since 2015.

The association  also  said the N15,000 monthly  impress to magistrates in the state  was  meagre when compared with their colleagues in  other states that receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly.

The Magistrates were also demanding for the rehabilitation of magistrate courts across the state and  none provision of official vehicles to it members,

The Magistrates, however,  decried what they described as the state’s government inability to pay  yearly robing allowances to its members  as applicable nationwide.

” To protect the welfare of members, uphold minimum standards  and sanctity of the magistrates in  the state, we need  immediate action on our demands.

“Magistrates are seen daily on  public or commercial vehicles, most times alongside litigants and criminal suspects  standing trial before them, this  is a security risk to their lives.

“This will leave Magistrates with no other option but to embark on a warning industrial action for two weeks in line with the extant labour laws effective from Wednesday, November 13.

“All services will be withdrawn from Wednesday, thereafter proceed on an indefinite strike if the government fails to implement their demands,’’ they said. (NAN)