Magistrates in Cross River have suspended their strike following the intervention of the chief judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme.

Godwin Onah, the chairman of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Cross River chapter, disclosed this in an interview on Monday in Calabar.

The magistrates resumed strike on February 8 over alleged welfare issues and the state government’s non-fulfilment of promises made in 2023.

Mr Onah said that the strike was only suspended, and not called off, saying, “We took the decision after a long meeting with the chief judge.

“We have received assurances through the chief judge. We are giving between now and September to address our demands.

Mr Onah said that at the top of the list of the magistrates’ demands was the provision of official vehicles and accommodations for magistrates in the state.

“It will be impracticable to build houses for magistrates in every local government area, so we propose payment of housing allowances as an interim measure,” he said.

He asserted that the association was equally pressing for the payment of wardrobe allowance.

Mr Onah noted that although no formal memorandum of understanding was signed with the government, he hoped that the chief judge’s intervention would yield positive results.

(NAN)