By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Despite appeals by the Cross River State government to members of the state chapter of Magistrate Association of Nigeria, MAN, to shelve their plan to down tools over pay rise and improved condition of service, magistrates in Cross River State have dared Governor Bassett Otu by kick-starting an indefinite industrial action from Monday December 9, 2024.
Sequel to that, the leadership of the Cross River State branch of MAN has directed it members to refrain from performing all official duties, including court sittings till further notice.
A statement from the leadership of the association titled ‘Bulletin No. 2: Indefinite Strike,’ signed by Cross River State chairman of MAN, His Lordship, Godwin Onah, and Secretary General, Solomon Abuo, and sighted by CompassNG asked member of the association not to be at their duty posts.
Recall that judiciary workers had on November, 5, 2024 issued a seven-day ultimatum, threatening to down tools on November 27, 2024.
The three-day warning was meant to drive home their eight-point demand from Governor Bassey Otu’s led administration.
Following the government’s failure to meet the body’s demands, which include enhanced renumeration, as well as seven other welfare related issues, according to the statement, prompted the industrial action.
Part of the magistrates statement reads, “Sequel to our letter to the governor of Cross River State, dated 11 November, 2024, wherein the NOTICE OF STRIKE, was extended to Friday 22 November, 2024 to enable the state government to attend to our demands, and furthermore in view of the Bulletin No. 1 dated 27th November, 2024, wherein we had embarked on a warning strike from 27 to 29 November, 2024, and the government of Cross River State, having failed to address our demands as contained in our communiqué dated 5 November, 2024, or even take any steps to negotiate with us.
“We are hereby embarking on an indefinite strike action from Monday, December 9, 2024 till our demands are met.”
