A retired judge, Justice Solomon Olugbemi (Rtd), has decried the poor treatment of judicial officers upon retirement, revealing that in Ogun State, “the suffering of judicial officers begins afresh on the date of their retirement.”
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Olugbemi, who retired from the state judiciary, made the remarks while delivering a lecture at the 2025 Judges’ Conference, held at the ceremonial hall of the Judiciary Complex in Abeokuta. The conference, themed “Well-Being and Retirement of Judicial Officers in Nigeria: Bench and Post-Bench,” focused on the challenges faced by serving and retired judges.
Drawing from his personal experience, Olugbemi lamented the difficulty many retired judicial officials encounter in accessing their entitlements. He disclosed that it took prolonged negotiations between the Chief Judge and the Governor before he received a severance gratuity, which he described as “paltry” and was delivered in cash.
“In Ogun State, the suffering of Judicial Officers on retirement commences afresh on the date of their retirement, and I am writing from personal experience,” Olugbemi said. “It was almost a tug of war between the Honourable the Chief Judge and the Governor before the paltry sum called ‘Severance gratuity’ was paid to me, and guess what? It was brought to me in cash! I later found out that, compared to the amount paid to the person who retired after me, I was short-changed by about half a million Naira.”
He further revealed that it took three months before his pension began and another two years for the gratuity to be paid. “I can, however, be said to have been lucky because those who retired before me never had it so easy, as the government had neglected paying retirement benefits of public servants, including judicial officers, for several years,” he added.
Olugbemi argued that such treatment is unfair to public servants who dedicated 35 years of service or retired at 60, yet still struggle to maintain a decent standard of living. He recommended constitutional amendments to make the funding of state judiciaries a direct charge on the Federation Account, with payments made directly by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, underscored the importance of ensuring the well-being of judges, both serving and retired. She expressed concern over persistent challenges facing the judiciary, including inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and stagnant salaries.
Dipeolu, however, highlighted recent improvements following the signing of a new Act by President Bola Tinubu, which increased judicial officers’ salaries and allowances. She described the development as “a significant step forward” but urged vigilance to ensure the gains do not remain “an isolated case.”
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