February 3, 2026 l By Dalena Reporters
Magistrates in Cross River State have announced plans to resume an indefinite strike beginning February 9, 2026, after the state government failed to address longstanding welfare, remuneration, and working-condition concerns, legal officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The decision, communicated in a letter dated February 2 and released to journalists in Calabar, follows an earlier suspension of industrial action after promises from the government to meet key demands.
At the heart of the dispute are a range of issues magistrates say have been neglected, including inadequate remuneration, lack of official vehicles and accommodation, renovation of courthouse facilities, and payment of salary arrears stretching back to 2019. They also cited a stark disparity between their current monthly impress allowance of ₦15,000 and allowances of magistrates in neighbouring states, which reportedly range from ₦200,000 to ₦250,000.
According to a communique jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (Cross River State chapter), Godwin Onah and Solomon Abuo, the magistrates had previously suspended strike action in good faith following a personal intervention by the state governor in late 2024, during which certain commitments were reportedly made. However, while the government fulfilled the immediate implementation of promotions and regularisation of magistrates with associated financial benefits, remaining demands have yet to be honoured.
The magistrates warned that their withdrawal of services would significantly impact the administration of justice in Cross River, where courts have already experienced disruptions due to previous standoffs in late 2024 and early 2025. Tensions intensified as magistrates across the state urged the government to act swiftly to avert the looming resumption of strike action.
In highlighting the stakes of the dispute, the association emphasised that continued neglect of welfare and operational needs undermines judicial efficiency and affects the wider public’s access to timely justice particularly in a state where citizens depend heavily on magistrate courts for civil and criminal matters.
As of this report, Cross River State government representatives were yet to issue a formal response to the association’s latest ultimatum. With the strike deadline less than one week away, stakeholders within the legal community and civil society are urging renewed negotiations to forestall further disruptions in the judiciary.