Judicial officers across Nigeria have been advised to make their health and well-being a priority in view of the demanding responsibilities associated with their profession.
The Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, gave the advice during the opening session of a retreat for judges of the superior courts of record in Abuja.
He noted that increasing workloads and high expectations continue to place considerable strain on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of judicial officers.
Adejumo explained that studies had established a direct link between the well-being of judges and the effectiveness of justice delivery.
“The weight of the judicial office is immense. Fulfilling this role demands long hours, navigating congested dockets, and undertaking extensive reading and research — a rigorous burden that remains substantial even with the valuable support of legal assistants.
“Furthermore, Your Lordships must dedicate significant time to transcribing proceedings and crafting meticulously reasoned judgments.
“Beyond these administrative and intellectual demands, Your Lordships are constantly challenged to balance strict judicial neutrality with a keen awareness of social context.
“More often than not, these profound responsibilities are discharged under intense public scrutiny and immense pressure.
“Ultimately, judicial officers are held to the highest standards of ethics and competence in both their personal and professional lives.
“These relentless demands and high expectations inevitably take a significant toll on the physical, mental and emotional health of judicial officers.
“Consequently, within the judicial sphere, health and wellness must be treated as an absolute priority.
“Judicial wellness is not a personal luxury; it is a fundamental institutional issue,” Adejumo stated.
He warned that compromised physical health or reduced mental resilience among judicial officers could affect the quality of their work, thereby weakening public trust and confidence in the Judiciary.
The NJI administrator also highlighted the institute’s ongoing efforts to strengthen judges’ professional capacity through regular training programmes covering various areas of law.
According to him, the institute has conducted more than 40 training programmes this year alone, addressing critical subjects such as asset recovery, maritime law, oil and gas law, corrections, public interest litigation, consumer protection, counter-terrorism, child justice administration and judicial ethics.
He said the institute’s Board of Governors and Education Committee had carefully designed the retreat to ensure that judicial officers’ physical and mental well-being received attention alongside their demanding intellectual responsibilities.
“This Retreat on Health, Wellness and Nutrition is specifically designed to share practical knowledge and insights to safeguard Your Lordships’ well-being.
“The sessions will focus on counteracting burnout, mitigating sedentary and ergonomic risks, and optimising nutrition for high-cognitive performance,” he added.
Adejumo also expressed appreciation to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for approving the health-focused retreat.
