Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has approved a 60 per cent increase in the salaries and allowances of magistrates and some other judicial officers in the state.
The Head of Service(HoS), Segun Odusanya, disclosed this while receiving a delegation of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Ondo State Chapter, in his office on Thursday.
Mr Odusanya said the beneficiaries of the salary review include magistrates, Presidents of Grade A Customary Courts and Legal Research Officers.
According to him, the approval is aimed at improving the welfare of judicial officers and enhancing the effective dispensation of justice in the state.
Odusanya said the increment in salaries was part of the efforts of the current administration to strengthen the administration of justice in the state.
He described the salary review as long overdue and commended Aiyedatiwa for prioritising the welfare of workers, particularly those in the judiciary.
“This agitation has been on for years and through successive administrations. We appreciate the governor for graciously approving the increase in salaries and allowances for magistrates.
“It is unheard of that magistrates have to rely on commercial motorcycles and public transport in the discharge of their duties.
“The governor has approved the review of their salaries and allowances, which is the first in decades,” he said.
Odusanya also disclosed that the state government was considering the provision of official vehicles for the affected officers to enhance their mobility and improve service delivery.
He noted that exposing judicial officers to the risks associated with public transportation could negatively affect both their safety and the administration of justice.
Speaking, the state Chairman of MAN, Mrs Funmi Edwin, commended the governor for approving the salary increase.
Edwin described the development as unprecedented, noting that judicial officers in the state had not enjoyed a similar review in about 50 years.
“It has just been confirmed that the governor has signed the approval for the increment. This is a good development for us because it has never happened before.
“We appreciate the governor for doing what no other governor has done in Ondo State for about 50 years. The allowances we have been receiving have remained unchanged for decades,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the salary review would boost the morale of judicial officers and improve their productivity.
Edwin also appealed to the government to give favourable consideration to other requests of the association, including the provision of official vehicles for magistrates.