Stakeholders demand improved welfare for Magistrates in north west

Recent debates around the disturbing poor welfare for Magistrates across Nigeria have shown that improving their welfare across board is a game-changer for Nigeria’s justice system.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that these timely and apt debates were mainly centred on better pay, resources, and conditions that can boost their performance, reduce corruption, and enhance justice delivery.

The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (NAN) has been pushing for improved welfare packages, including: Judicial autonomy, official vehicles, improved salaries and better working conditions

With improved welfare, magistrates can focus on delivering quality justice, and that means a fairer deal for Nigerians.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also been happily backing these demands, saying its key to effective justice delivery.

According to the NBA, the impact includes: Faster case resolution, reduced corruption, increased public trust and an efficient justice system

Some states are already making moves, like Ondo and Cross River, but more needs to be done.

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In Kaduna State, the stakeholders have expressed concern over what they described as a wide welfare gap between magistrates and State High Court judges.

A Kaduna-based legal practitioner, Mr Sani Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that although magistrates handle a significant percentage of criminal and civil matters, their welfare package falls short when compared with that of High Court judges in the state.

He said: “In Kaduna, High Court judges are provided with official vehicles, official accommodation and enhanced security details.

“Many magistrates, however, do not enjoy similar privileges despite their heavy caseload.”

According to him, some magistrates commute to court without official transport, a situation he described as “inconsistent with the dignity of the judicial office.”

Also speaking, a senior magistrate in the state, who preferred anonymity, said the disparity had become more pronounced in recent years.

“While we recognise the constitutional status of High Court judges, magistrates remain the first line of justice delivery.

“Yet, in terms of remuneration, official quarters and other benefits, the gap is quite significant,” the magistrate said.

The magistrate said that improving welfare at the magistracy level would enhance morale and reduce operational challenges in the lower courts.

In  Kano State, the Judiciary says lack of genuine financial and standard judicial autonomy at the state level was forcing lower courts to rely on irregular funding, thereby affecting the welfare and performance of magistrates.

The spokesperson of the Kano State judiciary, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, disclosed this while highlighting the challenges facing magistrates in the state.

Jibo-Ibrahim said Kano currently had 55 magistrates, stating that some of them commute to their courts using public transportation.

He said the development was due to the lack of accommodation, logistical and infrastructural deficits within the judicial system, which expose magistrates to security risks, including travelling alongside litigants.

“Yes, it is true that some magistrates go to their respective courts using public transport.

” Local government magistrates are particularly affected by this infrastructural deficit,” he said.

According to him, the welfare of magistrates is significantly poorer when compared to that of State High Court judges.

He attributed the disparity to the lack of genuine financial autonomy for the judiciary at the state level, which forces lower courts to depend on erratic funding from the executive arm of government.

“This situation had resulted in salary disparities, absence of official vehicles, lack of accommodation and, in some cases, dilapidated and unsafe working environments for magistrates,” he said.

Jibo-Ibrahim, however, said the Kano State Government had recently focused on improving the welfare of judicial officers, including magistrates, through enhanced welfare packages and implementation of financial autonomy.

He said that the key initiatives introduced between 2023 and 2026 included housing provision, improved allowances, financial support, vehicle provision and a proposed salary review expected in 2026.

He said the initiatives were aimed at improving working conditions and ensuring judicial independence in the state.

The spokesperson stressed that improving the welfare of magistrates was essential for maintaining an effective, independent and incorruptible judiciary.

He urged the relevant authorities to enhance financial compensation and security arrangements for magistrates, as well as ensure prompt payment of benefits.

Jibo-Ibrahim also commended the Chief Judge of Kano State, Justice Dije Aboki, for efforts towards ensuring improved welfare standards, including the introduction of special allowances for magistrates to enable them discharge their duties effectively.

Meanwhile, on the welfare of Magistrates in Katsina State, evidence has shown that Magistrates are poorly remunerated.

A reliable source, however, who sought anonymity said that the salary structure of magistrates in the state was almost not different from the the salary structure of the state civil service.

He said, “As of 2019, magistrates in Katsina State were the least paid in Nigeria.

” This was as a result of a comparative analysis that the National Body of the Association carried out in 33 states attended, including FCT. The analysis still remains the same to date.

“The genesis of the problems of magistrates in Katsina started in 2011 when the then government removed so many allowances earlier enjoyed by the Magistrates.

“This included two domestic staff allowances and half salary, amongst others.”

According to the source, currently, on average, a magistrate only earns about N10,000 above the regular civil service structure.

He continued, “On the issue of autonomy, many of us are waiting patiently for its implementation.

“Autonomy may not change the take-home pay of magistrates without the input of government or harmonisation of the salary structure of magistrates across the country.

*But it may, however, improve other aspects as it relates to working conditions.

“It may interest you to note that no Magistrate Court in the state is given imprest for the running of the court.

“A Magistrate is usually employed first on GL 10 and his take-home for the month, including any allowance, if any, is about N120,000.”

According to the source, a magistrate on GL 16 receives about N190,000 or thereabout, adding, “I can categorically tell you that is all a magistrate earns or receives.

“Amongst the weird challenges we face, or what may interest you to note is that other stakeholders that work with us and are more subordinate to us get better pay and welfare.

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“These include the Police and Officers of the correctional centres. For example, most of our prosecutors are ASPs, and they all get better pay than us.

“In some instances, even our court duty officers who are policemen get better pay, especially with their new salary structure. How do you expect results in such arrangements?

“Magistrates do most or the bulk of the work in the Justice sector, and we are the most neglected officers.

” On record, we are judicial officers, but when it comes to remuneration, we are not considered as judicial officers.”

He stressed the need to enhance the welfare of magistrates, adding, “This is due to the fact that we do the bulk of the work, as I stated earlier.

“What more hardship is there currently in the country than a magistrate faced with different suspects day i,n day out.

“The Magistrate Courts are the first bus stops of the police in the courts, and we deal with issues directly at the grassroots.

* The suspects and their relatives and co-conspirators know you first as the one who detained their family or friends.

* They don’t care if you are just doing your job or that you legally detained them, but the government is protecting you financially and mentally.

“Each day we are faced with suspected bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, murderers, rapists, etc. in courts.

“What sort of a hardship can be more than this currently in the country, and you are being neglected.

“So, the need to look into our welfare cannot be overemphasised.”(NAN)