Bayo Akinlade Esq
In a recent publication I read that the AG of Kaduna State was assuring the Magistrates in his State that he would see to the needs of magistrates asking for at least a N200k minimum wage income. Now this gets me thinking –
- Are we saying that lower court judges who entertain and handle cases worth millions of naira go home with less than 500k monthly pay?
- Who is in charge of the lower courts? Is it the Executive arm of Government or the Judiciary?
- Who has the powers to make the conditions of service better for the lower courts? Is it the Attorney Generals or the Chief Judges?
In my opinion it is very embarrassing, appalling and downright unacceptable for lower court judges to be paid peanuts, not have access to affordable housing and for many not to have cars to take them to work. What is even more treacherous is for the Judiciary to be so underfunded that it cannot provide a suitable working environment for lower court judges. Yet we are expected to take our dispute to these courts, expect a homeless and car-less lower court judge to resolve our dispute when his own general life issues are not resolved?
What are our Chief Judges doing to remedy this situation?… Most of them are doing NOTHING! and there lies the treachery.
In Lagos State I was made to understand that our Lagos State Law Reform Commission did an extensive review of the Magistrates Courts Law of Lagos State but where is that review today? When I asked, they told me it’s before the Chief Judge for his lordship’s comments…. So whatever is going wrong in our administration of Justice system in Lagos State is on the table of one person….?
If our Chief Judges continue to crush the necks of our lower court judges then be rest assured that one day the entire justice system will collapse and we will know who caused that collapse.
But before it collapses, may I humbly plead with our heads of courts (who’s days are numbered) to set the machinery rolling to adopt reforms around our Magistrates Court Laws and Magistrate Court Rules.
Our children and children’s children will be better off for it.
