The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, has strongly condemned the reported salary deductions affecting judicial officers in Oyo State, urging Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene and reverse the policy to prevent a looming breakdown of the judicial system.
In a letter addressed to the governor, the branch chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, expressed dismay over the alleged pay cuts targeting magistrates, Presidents of Grade A Customary Courts, and other judicial staff. The NBA described the development as both alarming and detrimental to justice delivery in the state.
“Our initial response was disbelief,” the letter stated. “We dismissed it as another baseless rumor until it became evident that these deductions are real and widespread. This situation now threatens the core operations of the judicial sector.”
The association emphasized that while it has remained apolitical in its dealings, it cannot remain silent in the face of actions that compromise the integrity of the judiciary and the rights of its workers.
The NBA called on the Oyo State government to investigate and immediately rectify the deductions, citing specific salary cuts as follows: deputy chief registrars (N247,831.61), chief magistrate I (N235,680.50), chief magistrate II (N182,646.88), senior magistrates (N133,926.79), magistrate Grade I (N122,772.98), magistrate Grade II (N106,113.70), deputy chief registrar of the Customary Court of Appeal (N199,712.56), pioneer President of Grade A Customary Court (N151,000.00), and newly appointed President of Grade A Customary Court (N94,311.00).
The NBA warned that any further disruption in the judiciary’s operations would disproportionately affect the common man and undermine public confidence in the system.
