Kogi Retired Judges Call for Immediate Payment of Outstanding Benefits

Retired judges in Kogi State have publicly protested what they describe as years of government neglect and the failure to pay legally guaranteed retirement benefits, leaving many of them in hardship long after their service ended.

The group of former judicial officers—who served the state and nation for decades before retiring between 2021 and 2023—says their pensions, gratuities, medical and security allowances, and other entitlements have not been paid despite completing all required processes.

In a statement to journalists, the retirees argued that these benefits are not privileges but constitutional rights meant to protect their dignity and welfare after years on the bench. They said repeated appeals to state officials, including calls for intervention by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, have gone unanswered.

“The irony is painful,” one retired judge said, insisting that those who spent their careers upholding the rule of law should not now be denied their own legal protections.

The judges warned that ignoring their plight erodes public confidence in the state’s commitment to justice and fairness, and called on the governor to act swiftly to settle all outstanding entitlements.