The magistrates alleged that Grade Level 1 magistrates in the state earn less than N200,000 monthly, a salary they said is insufficient for a judicial officer expected to maintain the dignity of the bench.
Magistrates in Kwara State have accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's administration of subjecting them to poor welfare conditions, alleging that many of them earn less than N200,000 monthly and have been forced to rely on commercial motorcycles (Okada) as their primary means of transportation to court.
Two magistrates who spoke exclusively to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals described their situation as "humiliating" and "degrading," saying they have repeatedly been excluded whenever the state government distributes official vehicles to judicial officers.
According to the sources, judges of the superior courts, as well as top judicial administrators such as the Chief Registrar and Deputy Chief Registrar, have benefited from welfare improvements and vehicle allocations, while magistrates and Area Court judges continue to struggle.
"Most of us don't own cars," one of the magistrates said.
