A Cross River State Senior Magistrate, Rita Ititim, with her five-month-old baby joined colleagues to protest over the non-payment of their 26-months’ salaries.
Ititim and 29 magistrates trooped out Monday morning, March 22 with placards to Governor Benedict Ayade’s office and demanded from Governor Ayade and the Cross River State government payment of their salaries.
Ititim, who noted that her baby had been exposed to dangers because she had not been able to buy drugs, foods and other essentials for her because she is been owing the pharmacies.
According to her, she had no choice but to bring her to illustrate the plight she had been in over the period.
“I feel very terrible that I have been forced out in this cold with my baby to be attacked by sand flies.
“I feel very terrible. I am close to tears that my baby has to cope without drugs and foods,” said.
Spokesman of the protesting magistrates, Solomon Abuo said, “In January 2021, when we met with the governor, his deputy and Attorney General of the state over our plight, he assured that he would defray the backlog of the 26 months’ salaries.
“We are most surprised that he has again reneged on his promise.
“It is very sad, unfair and heartlessness for the state government to treat us this way.
“Some of us have been evicted from our apartment’s over the inability to pay our rents.
“At that meeting, Governor Ayade set up a committee headed by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, who has since submitted his report to him.
“All that remains is for him to append his signature so that we can be paid. But we wouldn’t know why he doesn’t want to pay us.
“He agreed that the state government engaged us procedurally,” Abuo narrated.
