In the absence of workers, reptiles and overgrown weeds have taken over state controlled court premises in Calabar, Cross River State.
The courts have been under lock and keys since January 3, 2015 following the strike action embarked on by court workers under the auspices of Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria.
The workers are pressing for financial autonomy and appropriate funding by the respective state governments.
PUNCH newspaper correspondent, who went round the different court premises in Calabar on Monday, observed that the premises had been overgrown by weeds.
Obviously looking like buildings that have been abandoned for years due to the thick cobwebs and filthy environment, a security man in one of the courts located at Moore Road in Calabar, said reptiles such as snakes and lizards of various shades had become common features in the premises.
He said, “As you can see for yourself, the buildings have been swallowed by weeds. I sometimes look at some of the offices from outside and I see lizards all over. Apart from lizards, I have killed snakes here a couple of times. I hope that something should be done about this when the workers eventually resume.”
The state Chairman of JUSUN, Mr. Samuel Ebong, said it was not surprising that reptiles had taken over the premises.
Ebong, who expressed optimism that the state government would soon accede to the demands of the union, said the union would engage the services of the Calabar Urban Development Authority to clear and fumigate the environment and offices as soon as the strike was called off.
He added, “On the issue of the strike, we have been discussing with government and we hope that something concrete would soon be done. We cannot just call off the strike if no concrete agreement has been reached. Look at Abia State workers that initially called off the strike, they have gone back because of the lack of commitment on the part of government.”
PUNCH
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