All magistrates in Cross River State have started a three-day warning strike, beginning today, 27th November 2024. This development follows closely after the Organised Labour concluded its own two-day warning strike yesterday.
The Organised Labour is pushing the state government, led by Governor Bassey Otu, to pay the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000 immediately, without further delay.
The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN) confirmed the strike through a statement signed by its Chairman, His Worship Godwin Onah, and Secretary, His Worship Solomon Abuo. According to the statement, all magistrates across the state have joined the action, and courtrooms statewide remain locked.
The association also directed that all court staff must comply fully with the strike.
This is not the first time magistrates in the state have gone on strike this month. They initially staged a similar warning strike earlier in November but called it off, hoping the state government would meet their demands. MAN had even written to the governor, shifting their strike to 22nd November 2024, to allow more time for the government to act. Unfortunately, their demands were still ignored.
In the statement released today, MAN said, “As agreed during our congress meeting, we are now on a three-day warning strike, effective from 6:00 am today, 27th November 2024, and it will last until Friday, 29th November 2024. If the state government fails to meet our eight-point demands, we will embark on an indefinite strike until everything is resolved.”
With this action, both magistrates and the wider Organised Labour are sending a clear message to the government about their frustrations and expectations for improved conditions and timely action.