Birnin Kebbi, Feb. 26, 2026 (NAN) The Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kebbi Chapter, has expressed dissatisfaction over poor wages and other remuneration when compared with other judges in the service.
The association’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Magistrate Dayyabu Usman, expressed the reservation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin Kebbi.
Usman noted that the disparity in wages and other welfare packages between magistrates and Higher Court Judges was alarming in the state
He said the margin of welfare package between magistrates and other judges was a wide disparity in recognition of the condition of service applicable in the state.
According to him, the salaries of Higher Court Judges are unified nationwide and centrally funded, with no judge iearning less than N4 million monthly, in addition to medical and other allowances.
“As for magistrates, some earn about N200,000 as monthly salary, while in Kebbi, magistrates receive even less than N200,000,” Usman lamented.
He added that magistrates in the state had no official accommodation or specific allowances, noting that most of them lived in rented apartments.
“Imagine a Sergeant in the Nigeria Police Force on Grade Level 6 earning more than a Grade Level 16 magistrate. This situation is demoralizing,” he said.
Mr Abdulrahman Sadiq, a senior legal practitioner based in Birnin Kebbi, said the welfare gap between magistrates and High Court Judges had persisted for years.
“While High Court Judges enjoy official vehicles, residences and improved allowances, many magistrates still struggle with basic welfare needs, in spite of handling a heavy workload,” Sadiq said.
Also speaking, Chief Magistrate Amina Bello, attached to the Magistrate’s Court in Kalgo Local Government Area, said inadequate welfare packages had negatively affected morale among magistrates across the state.
“We handle a large number of cases daily, yet, some magistrates still rely on public transport to court and make personal arrangements for accommodation,” Bello said.
Similarly, Mr Yusuf Lawal, a senior judicial officer at the Magistrate’s Court in Jega, said poor welfare support could affect efficiency and commitment in the lower courts.
“Improving the welfare of magistrates will enhance productivity and strengthen justice delivery at the grassroots,” he said.
A civil society advocate, Mrs Zainab Musa, Coordinator of Women for Justice Initiative, Birnin Kebbi, urged the state government to prioritise the welfare of magistrates.
She said improved working conditions would strengthen public confidence in the justice system and promote fairness.
In Zamfara, the situation remained the same as Magistrates enjoy normal public service payment depending on their grade level and annual furniture allowance.
A legal Practitioner, Mr Umar Usman told NAN in Gusau that the disparity between the High Court Judges and that of Magistrate was really wide and incomparable interns of welfare package or take-home pay.
“I’m not sure if any Magistrate is using commercial transport to reach his court, I know sometime back during the previous administration government gave them vehicle loan to ease their logistic challenges.
“So, for the purpose of public interest there is need to improve the welfare package of Magistrate Judges to promote justice and well-being of the society,” Usman said.
In Sokoto, a senior worker in the state judiciary who pleaded anonymity, said the state government had fully taken care of judges welfare, training and other needs to ensure proper dispensation of justice.
The source explained that Magistrates and other Shari’a Court Judges were on civil service attracting renumeration based on grade level.
According to the source, Magistrates have a different entry level into the state service uncommon to other civil servants as legal officers.
The source added that many reside in government quarters just as allocated to other civil servants based on owner occupier system where government sold the houses to workers.
An Analysts, Abubakar Doki, stressed the need to design a peculiar entitlement arrangement to Magistrates in view of the fact that they handle bulk of routine legal issues especially in the rural areas.
Doko emphasised that with special renumeration to Magistrate Administration of Criminal Justice Law, family courts and other disputes adjudication would surely be strengthened.
He described the situation as pathetic where a Senior Magistrate would be using public transport system and public rented apartments. (NAN)
