SAN FRANCISCO, January 05, (THEWILL) – A magistrate, Richard Edet Bassey, collapsed on Tuesday at the gate of the Governor’s office in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on the second day of the magistrates’ protest over unpaid 24 months salaries.
He was, however, immediately revived by his colleagues who later took him to a hospital.
The magistrates numbering over 20 came in their full regalia and were among the 30 persons freshly employed by the Cross River State government two years ago.
According to them, they were demanding payment of two years salary as they have not received a dime since their employment into the state’s civil service by the Ayade led administration.
They said 30 of them were employed from private practice while 15 others were drawn from the Ministry of Justice, totalling 45.
Speaking on behalf of the magistrates, Solomon Abuo, said no government official had addressed them since they began the protest.
He said they had been tossed about for the past two years with nothing concrete coming from the government.
“As I speak we are still working. We will continue to protest until we are paid. This is our last resort”, he said.
