Stakeholders Demand Improved Welfare for Magistrates in North-East

Stakeholders in Yobe, Adamawa, and Borno states have called on their respective governments to improve the welfare of magistrates.

They made the appeal while responding to a journalists’ survey on the welfare of magistrates across the country. The stakeholders noted that magistrates’ working conditions were far worse than those of high court judges in the region.

According to them, failure to enhance magistrates’ welfare could expose some judicial officers to undue influence and compromise in the discharge of their duties.

The Chairman of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), Yobe Chapter, Ahmed Babuya, said magistrates earn significantly less than high court judges, despite handling over 90 per cent of judicial workload at lower courts.

“A High Court judge earns about ₦1.87 million monthly, while no magistrate earns up to ₦500,000. My salary is about ₦436,000,” he said.

Mr Babuya, a Chief Magistrate in Damaturu, explained that while judges are paid by the federal government through the National Judicial Council (NJC), magistrates are paid by state governments through the Judicial Service Commission.

He added that magistrates in Yobe have no official vehicles, yet deductions are still made from their salaries for car loans received years ago.

On accommodation, he said no magistrate in the state enjoys official residence, noting that situations where magistrates and their landlords appeared in court as litigants had occurred several times.

“To avoid embarrassment, I make sure I pay my rent early, but some colleagues are struggling,” he said.

He stressed that judicial independence is closely linked to welfare and appealed for urgent reforms.

“As a union, our appeal is simple: improve magistrates’ welfare so justice can be delivered without fear, favour, ill will, or affection,” he said.

Mr Babuya also noted the absence of special allowances for magistrates’ children’s education, unlike high court judges who enjoy consolidated pay.

A private legal practitioner in Damaturu, Abubakar Usman, also urged the state government to approve car and furniture allowances for magistrates.

He expressed concern over their poor welfare, revealing that some magistrates receive only ₦15,000 for overseeing two or more courts, including those outside Damaturu.

According to him, addressing welfare challenges would enhance neutrality and protect magistrates from inducements.

Mr Usman, who is also a lecturer at Yobe State University, however, emphasised that high courts are superior courts of record, requiring higher professional experience.

In Adamawa, a court registrar, who spoke anonymously, said magistrates’ courts are often the first point of contact for citizens, yet magistrates remain underserved.

He noted that while judges of high courts, Sharia, and customary courts enjoy improved welfare, magistrates handling grassroots cases face transportation, accommodation, and security challenges.

“The government has prioritised judges’ welfare through renovated court complexes, official vehicles, improved allowances, and funded vacations,” he said.

He added that the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Adamawa Chapter, had repeatedly raised concerns over magistrates’ welfare.

The registrar urged the government to enhance transportation, provide residential houses, and guarantee security for magistrates.

A magistrate in Adamawa, who declined to be named, said there is a wide disparity between welfare packages for judges and magistrates.

She called on the state government to review their allowances upward and fulfil long-standing promises.

“We need official vehicles and decent accommodation. I have to hire a tricycle daily to work because I don’t own a car,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Borno State Government has taken steps to improve judicial welfare.

The spokesperson to Governor Babagana Zulum, Dauda Iliya, said the administration recently provided 53 brand-new vehicles to magistrates and Sharia Court judges.

According to him, the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen judicial efficiency and independence in the state.