Magistrates under the Cross River State Judiciary have issued a fresh ultimatum to the state government, threatening to resume their indefinite strike action from Monday, February 9, 2026, if their long-standing demands on welfare, security, and working conditions are not urgently addressed.
The warning was contained in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting of the Cross River State Magistrates’ Association held in Calabar on Thursday, January 30, 2026.
According to the statement signed by the association’s chairman and secretary, the magistrates accused the state government of failing to implement agreements reached after their earlier strike in 2025.
The group described the situation as “untenable and dangerous,” warning that continued neglect could lead to a complete shutdown of magistrate courts across the state, severely affecting access to justice, especially for ordinary citizens who rely on magistrate courts for most civil and criminal matters.
The magistrates noted that they had earlier suspended their strike in good faith after assurances from the state government, but those promises have not been fulfilled.
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“We have waited patiently, but patience has its limits. If the government fails to meet our demands by February 8, 2026, we will have no choice but to withdraw our services indefinitely starting February 9,” the communique stated.
The Cross River State Government is yet to respond officially to the latest threat. However, the development has raised concerns among legal practitioners, civil society groups, and citizens who fear another prolonged disruption to the justice delivery system in the state.
The last magistrates’ strike in Cross River lasted several weeks in 2025, causing a major backlog of cases and hardship for litigants.
This is a developing story.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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