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

They made the plea while responding to a survey by journalists on the welfare of magistrates across the country.

The stakeholders noted that the magistrates’ working conditions were by far worse than those of high court judges in the states.

They said that failure to enhance the welfare of magistrates would cause some of them to become susceptible to compromise on their judicial responsibilities.

Ahmed Babuya, chairman, Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria (MAN), Yobe chapter, stated that magistrates earn a lower salary compared to high court judges, despite presiding over more than 90 per cent of the judicial workload at the lower courts.

“A High Court judge earns about N1.87 million monthly, while no magistrate earns up to N500,000. My own salary is about N436,000,” he said.

Mr Babuya, a Chief Magistrate in Damaturu, said that magistrates’ salaries were paid by states through the state Judicial Service Commission, while judges received payment from the federal government through the National Judicial Council (NJC).

He said magistrates in Yobe had no official vehicles, but deductions were made from their salaries for car loans they received from the state government years back.

On accommodation, the chairman said no magistrate in the state was enjoying official residence and embarrassing situations whereby magistrates and landlords appeared in courts as litigants had occurred several times in the past.

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

The chairman said such pressures could expose magistrates to undue influence, saying that judicial independence was closely tied to welfare.

“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 added that there was no provision for special allowances to take care of magistrates’ children’s education, noting that high court judges enjoyed consolidated pay.

Abubakar Usman, a private legal practitioner in Damaturu, also called on the state government to approve car and furniture allowance to magistrates.

He expressed concern over the poor welfare of magistrates in the state, noting that they received a paltry sum of N15,000 for overseeing two or more courts, some of which were outside Damaturu.

He said that addressing the welfare challenges of magistrates would enhance their neutrality and protect them from all forms of inducements.

Mr Usman, who is also a lecturer with the Faculty of Law at Yobe State University, Damaturu, however, emphasised that high courts were superior to magistrates’ courts.

“ High Court is a superior court of records, while a magistrates’ court is a court of summary trial.

“ One needs at least 10 years of practice to be eligible to apply for the position of High Court Judge. Magistrates don’t require this.

“ Beyond any iota of doubt, a High Court is a court of technicalities. Therefore, intellectuality involved in the High Court is more than that of a magistrates’ court,” he said.

In Adamawa, a court registrar, on condition of anonymity, said Magistrates’ Courts were the first point of contact for most citizens, yet the magistrates remained underserved compared to high court judges.

He said while high court, Sharia and customary courts’ judges enjoyed improved welfare, magistrates handling a stockpile of grassroots cases faced challenges in transportation, accommodation and security.

“The government has prioritised the welfare of judges, with renovated court complexes, provision of SUV vehicles for security and efficiency, reviewed allowances and fully funded official vacations.

“The Judicial Workers Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Adamawa chapter, had repeatedly raised concerns over magistrates’ welfare, calling for reforms to strengthen efficiency and independence at the lower bench,” he said.

The registrar urged the state government to revisit magistrates’ welfare demands, especially by enhancing their means of transportation, providing residential houses to them and guaranteeing their security.

This, he said, would promote equity within the judiciary and enhance access to service delivery.

A magistrate, who did not want his name in print, said there was a wide disparity between the welfare packages of high court judges and magistrates.

He, therefore, called on the state government to review the allowances of magistrates upward and fulfil years of promises of addressing the plight of magistrates in the state.

“We need official vehicles and decent accommodation, because we face security risks associated with handling numerous grassroots cases and interacting with litigants regularly.

“Inadequate transportation sometimes affects sittings, especially for those who travel from the state capital to local government areas to hear cases.

“For example i don’t have a vehicle, so I have to hire a tricycle daily that takes me to work and brings me back, while others who have drivers and security escorts need money to pay them,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Borno government had provided residential quarters and vehicles to judicial officials, especially the high Court, and Sharia Courts judges as well as magistrates.

The spokesperson for Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, Dauda Iliya, said that the governor had recently boosted judicial efficiency with 53 brand new vehicles for magistrates and Sharia Court judges in the state.

Mr Dauda said that the provision of the vehicles was part of the Zulum administration’s efforts to strengthen the Judiciary in the state.

(NAN)