Nigeria’s Crisis of Judicial Pensions Is Not About Karma, but Justice

The growing crisis surrounding unpaid pensions and terminal benefits of retired judges in Nigeria has raised serious concerns about judicial independence, morale and the rule of law. Despite constitutional and international guarantees, many judges who served with distinction have been forced into prolonged legal battles against the very governments they once upheld.

A notable example is Babajide Candide-Johnson, a former judge of the High Court of Lagos State, who retired in June 2021 after 20 years of unblemished service. Widely praised for his brilliance, diligence and fearlessness on the bench, he was compelled just nine months after retirement to sue the Lagos State Government for his pension and severance entitlements. Although the matter was later resolved amicably, his case highlighted a troubling pattern. In 2022 alone, at least five other retired Lagos judges took similar legal action.

The situation is not unique to Lagos. In Abia State, 22 retired judges sued the state government over unpaid pensions dating back nearly 16 years. While the case dragged on at the National Industrial Court, five of the judges reportedly died in hardship. It was only after a change in government in 2023 that an agreement was reached to clear the backlog.

Across several states, including Ondo, Imo, Ogun, Oyo and Kogi, retired judges have increasingly resorted to litigation to enforce their rights. Although a constitutional amendment in June 2023 transferred responsibility for judicial pensions to the National Judicial Council (NJC), it did not address the huge liabilities accumulated before that date.

Critics say the NJC has been a weak advocate for retired judges, failing to clearly identify defaulting states or quantify outstanding liabilities. The consequences are severe: declining morale among serving judges, vulnerability of retirees to fraud, and a dangerous erosion of judicial integrity.

This crisis is not about karma or retribution. It is about justice, dignity and safeguarding the independence of the judiciary. Addressing it decisively is essential not only for retired judges, but for public confidence in Nigeria’s courts and constitutional democracy.