‘It’s Disgraceful Governor Ayade Has Not Paid Magistrates For 24 Months’ – NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted the Cross Rivers State Government for owing magistrates in the state 24 months’ salary arrears.

The NBA president, Olumide Akpata made the position of the bar known on Friday, in reaction to the protests embarked upon by about 30 magistrates at the Governor’s office on Tuesday.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) has noted with concern, the disgraceful and completely unacceptable situation in Cross River State that resulted in about 30 Magistrates resorting to public but peaceful protests to demand the payment of their salaries which has remained outstanding for 24 months owing to the actions of the Cross River State Government.

“The excuses reportedly provided by the Cross River State Government as the basis for non-payment (being the fact that the Governor of the State did not authorize the employment of the Magistrates) is rather unfortunate considering that the constitutional power to appoint the said Magistrates is not vested in the Governor but in the Cross River State Judicial Service Commission (which duly appointed them), and the State has, in any case, continued to utilize the services of the Magistrates for upward of two years,” he stated.

Akpata said that he has been trying to get the state government to attend to the welfare of members of the justice sector, and hinted that the association might consider legal actions against the government over the matter.

“The NBA assures all concerned persons that it will continue to do all that it is legally able to do to ensure at the issue of non-payment of the Magistrates is also resolved.

“The NBA therefore expects that now that the unfortunate situation has become an issue of public knowledge, reason will prevail and the Cross State Government will see its way clear to resolve this issue in the interest of the State, the legal profession in Nigeria and the Magistrates concerned,” his statement read in part.