The Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned and rejected the salary deductions affecting judicial staff in Oyo State by the Seyi Makinde led administration.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Ibrahim Lawal, made available to the public on Monday morning, they maintained that Makinde must immediately reverse the decision to prevent a total shutdown of the judiciary.
The attention of the leadership and entire members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan Branch, has just been drawn to the alleged deductions of salaries payable to Magistrates and Presidents of Grade A Customary Courts in Oyo State.
Our initial attitude to this disturbing development was that of disbelief and, consequently, dismissal as one of those wicked rumours being peddled by the adversaries of the Oyo State Government against the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde. This noncommittal posture was informed by the accustomed mudslinging against any person occupying a position of authority. There has been a series of damaging fables which placed the person of the Governor at the centre of the vilest attacks.
The NBA, Ibadan Branch, has refused to be dragged into partisan politics. Our mandate is very clear and we make bold to assert that the Association shall not shy away from defending same, when occasion dictates a course of action. The current news on salary deductions cannot be treated as purely administrative as it touches on the core of the dispensation of justice. Those affected by the deductions are the nearest to the ordinary people. Any disruption in the onerous duties assigned to them by law will impact on them negatively.
It is an open secret that all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, have been receiving almost three times the sum of revenue allocations accruable to them from the Federation Account in the past. The President made categorical statements regarding this fact. There has been no rebuttal from any of the Governors of the 36 States and the Minister of the FCT. There is, therefore, the presumption that the new fiscal position of these constituent units of the Federation is that of abundance, in terms of liquidity, a situation which does not support any modulation or deductions under whatever guise.
The leadership and the entire members of the NBA, Ibadan Branch, are worried and saddened by this unpleasant development affecting the arm of government saddled with onerous responsibilities bordering on the dispensation of justice. There is no gain asserting the obvious that our Magistrates and Presidents of Customary Courts perform very sensitive duties. They adjudicate on important matters at the lowest layer of the society. Therefore, issues of their welfare must be treated with utmost seriousness. The State cannot afford a total shutdown of the judicial space.
We call on the Governor of Oyo State to look into the allegation on deductions of the salaries of the following categories of judicial personnel in the State:
Deputy Chief Registrars: N247,831.61
Chief Magistrate 1: N235,680.50
Chief Magistrate 2: N182, 646.88
Senior Magistrate: N133,926.79
Magistrate Grade 1: N122,772.98
Magistrate Grade 2: N106,113.70
Deputy Chief Registrar for Customary Court of Appeal: N199,712.56
Pioneer President, Customary Court Grade A: N151,000.00
Newly Appointed President Customary Court Grade A: N94,311.
We demand an explanation from the relevant government agencies on the propriety of these deductions, folowing the knowledge of substantial increment in the federal allocations to all the States of Federation, including Oyo State. It has been our unpleasant duty to engage the government on issues of welfare for the judiciary. We had informed the Governor of the deplorable conditions under which these public servants undertake their duties. We have apprised the Government of the disgraceful and embarrassing practice wherein these officers struggle with commuters, sometimes litigants and defendants standing trial, to join public transport to courts, among other privations which they have had to bear with equanimity.
We appeal to the Governor to use his good offices to treat as urgent the issue of deductions before it degenerates into a labour action. The NBA enjoins the Government to halt all deductions and invite those concerned for discussions with a view to resolving all issues connected therewith amicably. We must avoid actions which may precipitate the shutting down of not only our court rooms but the entire judicial system. The dire consequences that this may engender can better be imagined than experienced.
SIGNED
Ibrahim Lawal, Esq, MCIArb (UK)
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association,
Ibadan Branch.
