By Our Reporter
Nigerian magistrates have raised concerns over poor remuneration and stagnant allowances, warning that the situation is undermining effective justice delivery across several states.
Magistrates and judicial workers in Bauchi, Gombe, and Jigawa states said urgent steps were needed to improve their welfare, working conditions, and security.
Speaking in separate interviews on Monday, stakeholders—including legal experts, union leaders, and magistrates—said poor pay and inadequate benefits were discouraging and risky, especially given the heavy workload at the grassroots level of the judiciary.
A Bauchi-based legal expert, Idris Aminu, said magistrates handle a large volume of cases but earn far less than judges in higher courts. He noted that while high court judges receive salaries from the federal government and enjoy better welfare packages, magistrates are paid by state governments and are often neglected.
Mr Aminu said providing official vehicles for magistrates would improve their safety and reduce the risk of conflicts of interest, as many currently rely on public transport.
He added that better remuneration would help reduce corruption risks and allow judicial officers to focus fully on their duties.
In Bauchi, the chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Bello Salisu, said although the federal government recently approved a 300 per cent salary increase for high court judges, magistrates and other judicial officers had not benefited from similar adjustments, aside from the new national minimum wage.
Mr Salisu said the state government was yet to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, despite repeated demands, and called for a 100 per cent salary increase for magistrates in view of their workload and importance to the justice system.
In Jigawa, the chairman of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Muneer Sagir, described the welfare of magistrates as “poor,” revealing that their monthly fuel allowance of ₦10,000 had remained unchanged for 20 years.
“The salary hardly lasts till the end of the month,” Mr Sagir said, adding that unlike high court judges, magistrates do not benefit from regular vehicle replacement schemes or overseas training.
He also called for the rehabilitation of magistrates’ quarters and courtrooms to improve justice delivery.
In Gombe, the chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Alhassan Mu’azu, commended the state government for providing new vehicles for judges and investing in court infrastructure. He said discussions were ongoing to improve the welfare of magistrates and judicial staff.
According to Mr Mu’azu, improved welfare for judicial officers would strengthen justice delivery and promote peace and social stability.
(NAN)