BREAKING.. Cross RIver: Magistrates Decry N15,000 Monthly Impress, Begin Indefinite Strike Monday
Ndifereke BASSEY
Magistrates in Cross River will on Monday embark on an indefinite strike over alleged poor welfare and other conditions of service.
The magistrates have decried the payment of N15,000 as monthly impress compared to about N250,000 magistrates in neighbouring states receive as monthly impress.
This is contained in a release jointly signed by Godwin Onah, Cross River Chairman of Magistrates Association of Nigeria (NAN) and the Secretary, Solomon Abuo and obtained by THE BEAGLE NEWS.
In the document, the Magistrates noted that the strike will not cease until their demands are met by the government, adding that they had earlier embarked on 3-day warning strike to press home their demands.
They warned that they will commence an indefinite industrial action should the government fail to meet their demands by midnight of Sunday, December 8, 2024.
According to them, the government have failed to implement their promotions and see to their overall welfare and working environment.
The statement dated December 8, noted that following the expiration of the warning strike, the magistrates have decided to embark on indefinite strike from Monday, December 9.
It reads in part: “Furthermore, sequel to our letter to the Governor of Cross River State dated 11th November, 2024, where the notice of strike, was extended to Friday, November 22, 2024 to enable the State Government to attend to our demands, and having failed to do so till date, we hereby issue this bulletin.
“In line therefore with our congress resolution to proceed on a warning strike, three days warning strike Is hereby declared by the state chapter of the Magistrates.
"This action in the first instance, will be effective from 6am of Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to Friday, November 29, 2024.
"If the state government fails to meet our demands, an indefinite strike shall be embarked upon until all our demands are fully met.”
They also decried the payment of N15,000 as monthly impress to magistrates in the state when compared to magistrates in neighbouring states that receive between N200,000 and N250,000 monthly
While also demanding for the rehabilitation of magistrate courts across the state, the association further condemned the government for none provision of official vehicles to it members.
It further demanded immediate implementation of promotion and regularisation of magistrates in the state with necessary financial benefits across all cadres as well as the implementation of all accrued arrears.
Before the warning strike, the magistrates had earlier in November issued a seven days ultimatum to the state government to effect promotion for its members that have remained stagnant since 2015.
