Kwara law officers seek equal pay with magistrates

Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. Photo: Kwara State Government.

The Kwara State Chapter of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria has urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to harmonise the salaries and allowances of state counsel with those of their magistrate counterparts in the state judiciary.

The association made the appeal in a letter dated September 8, 2026, addressed to the governor and signed by its Chairman, Kehinde Ayorinde, and Assistant Secretary, Remisola Afolabi.

A copy of the letter was obtained by PUNCH Online on Sunday in Ilorin.

The appeal came after the association commended the governor for approving the payment of outstanding allowances and entitlements owed to state counsel in the state.

The lawyers said the approval demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and would further boost the morale and productivity of state counsel.

“The association appreciates Your Excellency’s goodwill in demonstrating once again that the interests and welfare of workers remain part of the focus of your administration and as such will greatly enhance and further motivate State Counsel in discharge of their duties,” the association stated in the letter.

The association said the governor’s intervention had reaffirmed that workers’ welfare remained a priority of his administration.

However, while appreciating the approval, the lawyers said the harmonisation of the salaries and allowances of state counsel with those of magistrates remained an outstanding part of their demands.

“Your Excellency, Sir, we further passionately plead that you kindly look into the remaining aspect of our request, which is the implementation of harmonisation of salaries and allowances of State Counsel with their magistrate counterparts in the judiciary,” the association stated.

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The lawyers also prayed for God’s guidance and wisdom for the governor, as well as continued success in the administration of the state.

The latest appeal followed months of agitation by members of the association over unpaid allowances and other unresolved welfare issues.

PUNCH Online reported that the law officers, in July, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the state government over their demands, including the payment of outstanding furniture and robe allowances and the harmonisation of the salaries and conditions of service of state counsel with those of magistrates.

The ultimatum expired without the demands being fully addressed, prompting the association to commence an indefinite strike.

During the industrial action, the law officers withdrew legal services across ministries, departments and agencies in the state, affecting the provision of government legal services.

Following the strike, the state government approved the payment of the outstanding balance of the 2016–2020 furniture allowance owed to the law officers.

The government also approved payment of the 2024 furniture allowance as well as robe allowances for 2024, 2025 and 2026.

The association’s latest letter, while acknowledging the government’s approval of the outstanding allowances, indicated that the salary and allowance harmonisation with magistrates remained unresolved.