…Says Judges Face Burnout, Mental Health Risks
The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has raised concerns over the long-standing neglect of the Nigerian judiciary, warning that the well-being of judges must become a priority if the system is to remain effective and incorruptible.
Justice Dipeolu spoke on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 Judges’ Conference held at the Ceremonial Court, Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta. The theme of this year’s conference was “Judicial Officers’ Well-Being.”
She described the judiciary as the “third and co-equal arm of government” that had for decades been treated as an afterthought, citing years of underfunding, poor infrastructure, and a 15-year salary stagnation that lasted between 2008 and 2023.
“Judges have endured dilapidated courtrooms, outdated technology, insecurity in residences, and crushing societal expectations despite financial constraints,” she said.
According to her, the recent signing of the Judicial Salaries and Allowances Act by President Bola Tinubu offered a “ray of hope” but warned that welfare must not be treated as a one-off intervention.
“The remuneration of Judicial Officers should be increased regularly, and not occasionally or arbitrarily. True well-being is sustained, not sporadic,” she said.
Justice Dipeolu also drew attention to research showing alarming levels of stress among judges worldwide, noting that judicial officers are more prone to burnout, hypertension, obesity, and mental health challenges due to workload and exposure to trauma.
“For the psychological and emotional well-being of the Judicial Officer, managing stress through improved emotional intelligence, social connectedness, and debriefing is not a luxury; it is a professional necessity,” she stressed.
She urged judges to adopt personal wellness plans while also calling on government and judicial leadership to institutionalise reforms such as regular vacations, access to healthy food, and medical support systems.
“A healthy judiciary is a productive and incorruptible judiciary,” the Ogun CJ added.
The keynote lecture was delivered by retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi, who spoke on “The Well-Being and Retirement of Judicial Officers in Nigeria: Bench and Post-Bench Realities.” He shared practical insights on life after service, a subject Justice Dipeolu said was “not merely academic but a lived reality.”
The Chief Judge concluded by charging government and stakeholders to end the era of neglect, insisting that financial, physical, and psychological wellness must be guaranteed both in service and in retirement.
“As the Ogun State Judiciary vision statement says, let us build that ‘Cathedral of Justice’—a truly independent and transparent judiciary committed to equity and rule of law, starting with the well-being of those who serve within its walls,” she declared.
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