Magistrates in Cross River State have extended their ongoing strike following the failure of negotiations with the state government over the provision of official vehicles.

The Chairman of the Cross River chapter of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Onah, told our correspondent on Friday in Calabar that talks with the government remained inconclusive, as authorities had not shifted from their earlier stance despite fresh proposals from the association.

Onah explained that the dispute primarily revolves around the provision of official vehicles for the state’s more than 74 magistrates. He said the government offered to supply only 15 vehicles within the current budget cycle ending in March, a figure the association described as grossly inadequate.

According to him, the magistrates initially requested 37 vehicles to cover half of their members, with the balance to be delivered by June. However, after the government declined to review its offer, the association adjusted its demand and proposed a phased distribution plan.

Under the revised proposal, the government would supply 25 vehicles in March, another 25 in June, and the remaining 24 in September. Onah said the government was yet to respond to this new arrangement.

He noted that the magistrates would suspend the strike and resume duties only if the government approved the proposed 25-25-24 vehicle distribution plan.

While acknowledging that other concerns such as accommodation and security remained unresolved, Onah stressed that the immediate focus of the association was the provision of official vehicles, which he said would ease transportation challenges and enhance judicial service delivery across the state.

He added that the magistrates were conscious of the state’s financial constraints and ongoing commitments, including efforts to recover oil wells, but maintained that the demand was long overdue.

Onah recalled that the issue of official vehicles was first raised in 2012, with renewed assurances given by the government in 2024, none of which had translated into concrete action.

He, therefore, appealed to the Cross River State Government to adopt the instalment plan and bring an end to the prolonged industrial action in the interest of effective justice delivery.