ABEOKUTA — Serving and retired judges in Ogun State have called for judicial officers’ remuneration to be reviewed regularly, not occasionally or arbitrarily, insisting that true well-being must be sustained rather than sporadic.
The judges made the demand on Tuesday at the Ogun State 2025 Judges’ Conference, themed “Judicial Officers’ Well-Being,” held at the Judicial Complex, Abeokuta.
In her welcome address, the Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, lamented the neglect of the judiciary, recalling that judges’ salaries remained stagnant for 15 years until 2023 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the new Judicial Salaries and Allowances Act.
“For decades, the Judiciary, the third and co-equal arm of government, has been treated as an afterthought. We have endured inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and a painful disconnect between the immense responsibilities we bear and the resources allocated to us,” she said.
She described the long years of frozen salaries as a “silent testament to institutional neglect” but welcomed the recent reform by President Tinubu as a “ray of hope,” urging that it should mark the beginning of sustained investment in judicial welfare.
Quoting research findings, Justice Dipeolu noted that judges face higher levels of distress, burnout, and health risks compared to the general population, stressing the need for officers to prioritise wellness through healthier lifestyles, regular vacations, and stronger support systems.
Also speaking, retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi accused the executive and legislature of neglecting the judiciary for too long, arguing that such treatment is unfair to public servants who have given decades of service yet struggle to maintain a decent quality of life after retirement.
Olugbemi further recommended a constitutional amendment to make funding of state judiciaries a direct charge on the Federation Account, to be disbursed through the National Judicial Council (NJC) directly to state chief judges.
Both serving and retired judges agreed that a healthy and well-funded judiciary is essential for justice delivery, accountability, and incorruptibility in Nigeria.
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