The Munene of Efut
Kingdom, Chief Effiong Okokon, has appealed to Cross River Government to find solution to the ongoing strike by the state’s Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
Okokon made the appeal when he received the leadership of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council in Calabar.
He held that the strike had led to increase in criminal activities in the state.
“I call on the state government to quickly resolve the strike by judiciary workers in the state.
“Government should do everything within its power to re-open the courts in the interest of the people because it is the last hope of the common man”, he said.
He said the vigilantes under his tutelage were working hard to checkmate kidnapping and other forms of criminality in Calabar South area.
“We are ready to cooperate with security agencies in the state by giving them sensitive information about criminals in our domain,” he said.
Okokon, however, noted that information given to security agents were sometimes leaked, and advised against such practices.
“Our only concern is just that when we give this information, the people are arrested and the following day you still see them on the streets,” he said.
He described the Correspondents’ Chapel as very viable and important to Journalism, and promised to partner with members.
“The truth is that as, correspondents, I hold you in high esteem because it is what you write and air that people read and see.
“You should always write what you see, even if it concerns us, just draw our attention to react to the report because of our partnership.
“Always remember that the pen is mightier than the sword‘’, he said.
JUSUN had been on strike since January 5, 2015 demanding autonomy for the judiciary.
Chairman of Correspondents Chapel, Mr Judex Okoro, said they were in Munene’s palace to seek closer cooperation to enhance their reportage of the traditional institution in the state.