Nigerian Bar Association Condemns Oyo Government Over Unpaid Judges' Allowances

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, has strongly condemned the Oyo State Government for its persistent failure to pay rent allowances to judges for the past three years. The state's judges are also awaiting their 2026 leave and vacation allowances, exacerbating financial concerns. According to correspondence seen by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Oyo State Chief Judge, Iyabo Yerima, has sent multiple letters to Governor Seyi Makinde, with the latest being a third reminder dated June 5, 2026. The letters detail that the Chief Judge is entitled to a monthly rent allowance of N665,143, while other judges receive N601,580 each. A separate letter from July 13, 2026, requested the payment of the 2026 judges' vacation/leave allowance. Kola Kareem, chairman of the NBA Ibadan branch, stated in an interview with NAN that the government's actions show a profound lack of respect for the judiciary. He criticized the government for treating the judiciary as an extension of the civil service, dictating payment schedules and amounts, which he believes compromises judicial independence. Kareem argued that the judiciary cannot be truly independent if it must constantly petition the executive for its rightful entitlements. The NBA described the withholding of these allocations as unconstitutional and highlighted that the judiciary's reliance on the executive for capital and recurrent expenditures hinders its autonomy. The association also raised concerns about the lack of secure residential quarters for judges, exposing them to hazards, and called for a return to the tradition of judges living in dedicated quarters.

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For the CJ to have written three letters asking for payment of rent allowances for judges, it shows that the government has no regard for both the bar and the bench.