Magistrates and judicial workers in Bauchi, Gombe, and Jigawa states have raised concerns over poor welfare conditions, warning that the situation is undermining effective justice delivery at the grassroots level.
In Jigawa State, Muneer Sagir, Chairman of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria in the state, said the welfare of magistrates had remained unchanged for more than 20 years, despite rising economic pressures and an increasing workload.
“The general welfare is poor because a magistrate’s salary barely takes him to the end of the month,” Sagir said.
He added that magistrates receive a monthly fuel allowance of ₦10,000, which has remained static for two decades. According to him, wardrobe and furniture allowances previously paid to magistrates were converted into monthly instalments by the immediate past administration and subsequently merged with salaries.
Sagir noted that magistrates do not enjoy privileges available to higher judicial officers, such as periodic replacement of official vehicles or opportunities for foreign training. He also called for the rehabilitation of magistrates’ quarters and courtrooms to strengthen the administration of justice in the state.
In Bauchi State, a legal practitioner, Idris Aminu, said improved remuneration for magistrates was necessary, considering both their workload and the security risks associated with their duties.
Aminu said magistrates handle a large volume of cases at the grassroots level but are poorly paid compared with High Court judges, whose salaries are funded by the Federal Government.
“Magistrates are under the payroll of state governments, while High Court judges receive their salaries from the Federal Government,” he said.
He added that providing official vehicles for magistrates would address transportation challenges, improve their safety, and enable them to focus more effectively on their judicial responsibilities.
“It is uncomfortable and risky for magistrates to use public transport and unknowingly meet litigants in the same vehicle,” Aminu said.
Also speaking in Gombe State, Bello Salisu, Chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), said magistrates and judicial workers had not benefited from recent salary adjustments, despite a 300 per cent pay increase approved by the Federal Government for High Court judges.
Salisu said judicial workers had only benefited from the national minimum wage. He added that the state government was yet to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary, despite repeated demands.
According to him, the state government recently asked the union to submit a salary review proposal, which has been developed using benchmarks from other states and was submitted about two weeks ago.
He said that while High Court judges in the state have been provided with official vehicles and housing, magistrates continue to struggle with inadequate welfare and transportation support.
Salisu urged the Gombe State Government to approve a 100 per cent salary increase for magistrates, citing their heavy workload and critical role in the justice system.
However, Alhassan Mu’azu, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Gombe State, described the issue of welfare for magistrates and judicial workers as a “work in progress”.
Mu’azu said the association is engaging the state government to ensure improved welfare conditions for magistrates and judicial staff across the state.
