The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, on Tuesday called for improved remuneration and an adequate welfare package for the judiciary officers to enhance a truly independent, motivated and incorruptible judiciary.
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Judicial welfare and financial autonomy have remained recurring issues in Nigeria’s justice sector for decades.
Despite being regarded as the last hope of the common man, the judiciary has consistently complained of neglect compared to the executive and legislative arms of government.
Dipeolu said that judges in the country had for decades been confronted with poor pay, excess workload, a legacy of inadequate funding, and poor infrastructure, marking a regrettable and painful disconnect between the immense responsibilities of the judges and the allocated resources.
The Chief Judge argued that all of these catalogues of woes have their telling effects on the health of the judges, whereas a well remunerated and healthy judiciary is not only productive but also incorruptible.
Dipeolu disclosed this on Tuesday while declaring open the 2025 Judges conference held at The Judiciary Complex, Kobape road, Abeokuta.
She stated further that “Research shows judges report higher levels of distress and problematic drinking compared to the general population.
“We are predisposed to burnout, obesity, hypertension, and mental health issues due to high workload, prolonged sitting, exposure to trauma, and the immense stress of our vocation.”
Dipeolu explained further that “For fifteen long years, between 2008 and 2023, our salaries remained stagnant, a silent testament to institutional neglect. However, 2023 brought a ray of hope.”
She added that the constitutional alteration and, most recently, the new Act on Judicial Salaries and Allowances signed by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, represent a significant and welcome shift, but the government’s initiative, like this, must be sustained and implemented to change the poor narration in the Judiciary
Dipeolu continued, “While we express our gratitude for this development, we must be steadfast in our advocacy to ensure these gains are not a one-off event but the beginning of a new era of sustained investment in judicial welfare.
“As wisely suggested, the remuneration of Judicial Officers should be increased regularly, and not occasionally or arbitrarily. True well-being is sustained, not sporadic.”
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Judicial Officers’ Well-Being”, the Chief Judge urged the judicial officers to prioritise their wellness to enhance healthy living and productivity
She stated, “Let us develop personal wellness plans and, at an organisational level, create an environment that encourages regular vacations, provides access to healthy foods, and fosters a supportive community. A healthy judiciary is a productive and incorruptible judiciary.”
Also speaking at the event, Justice Solomon Olugbemi (retd..) corroborated that the judiciary had been neglected for too long by the executive and legislative arms of government.
Olugbemi also lamented the outrageous amount of money being allocated and literally shared by the members of the executive and legislature, while the third arm of the government, the judiciary, is left to wallow in want.
The retired judge explained that it is absurd that governors and their deputies receive excessive retirement benefits, including pensions and other allowances, after spending a maximum of only eight years in office, while civil servants who worked for 35 years will continue to live in abject poverty
He recommended a truly financially independent judiciary, such that the judiciary allocation is deducted directly from the federation account and then paid directly through the National Judicial Council to the Judiciary arm of each state of the federation.
In 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Act into law, which approved an upward review of salaries for judicial officers across the country. https://punchng.com/tinubu-okays-300-salary-rise-for-judicial-officers/
The move followed several years of agitation, protests by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, and calls from bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council.
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