Manny Ita –
Magistrates in Cross River State are set to resume their previously suspended indefinite strike today, following what they describe as the state government’s failure to address longstanding concerns over their welfare and personal security.
The action was confirmed by the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River State chapter, which said the decision followed the expiration of a grace period granted to the government after earlier negotiations. The association noted that although some magistrates were recently promoted, the promotions did not resolve deeper structural issues affecting their working conditions.
According to MAN, the unresolved issues border on seven critical demands, including improved security for magistrates and their families, enhanced welfare packages, and the implementation of benefits already approved in other states. The association said magistrates remain vulnerable due to inadequate protection, particularly in volatile and remote areas where many are posted.
A statement issued by the association said the strike became unavoidable after repeated engagements with relevant authorities failed to yield concrete outcomes. “We suspended the strike in good faith to allow the government the opportunity to act, but there has been no meaningful progress on our core demands,” the statement read.
MAN stressed that magistrates play a crucial role in the administration of justice at the grassroots and should not be exposed to undue risk or hardship. “Our members are expected to dispense justice impartially, yet they are left without basic security and welfare guarantees. This situation is unacceptable,” the association said.
The resumption of the strike is expected to disrupt proceedings in magistrates’ courts across the state, affecting criminal trials, remand proceedings, and other judicial activities at the lower court level. Legal practitioners and court users are likely to bear the brunt of the industrial action.
As of the time of filing this report, the Cross River State Government had not issued an official response to the planned resumption of the strike. MAN, however, maintained that it remains open to dialogue, insisting that the strike would only be called off when “clear, binding commitments” are made to address the outstanding demands.
