Judges, Others Get Pay Rise In Likely Judicial Reforms

The judicial reform promised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking shape as judges in the country will now get a significant increment in their salaries and allowances.

LEADERSHIP reports that after President Tinubu signed the Judicial Office Holders Salaries and Allowances Bill into law, judicial officers in the country will receive a 300 percent increase in their salaries.

The new basic salary and other emoluments’ structure implies that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) will now take N152,127,582.84 million and other allowances annually. This excludes the $2,000 estacode (per night), duty tour allowance of N142,500 (per night) and motor vehicle loan of N53,850,471.80 (repaid before the end of tenure).

Details of the guaranteed amount for the CJN on an annual basis include annual basic salary- N13,462,617.95; monthly salary, N1,121,884.83; annual regular allowances, N51,157,948.21; monthly regular allowances, N4,263,162.35; non-regular allowances: leave allowance, N6,731,308.98 (when applicable) and severance gratuity,  N80,775,707.70 (after his/her tenure).

Other justices of the Supreme Court will collect a gross sum of N134,802,161.39 (N134.8m) annually as salaries, furniture allowance and sundry allowances.

Official figures also show that the President of the Court of Appeal will take home about the same amount as the justices of the Supreme Court.

The President of the Court of Appeal will now collect N136,804,840.24, consisting of annual basic salary – N9,913,394.22; N52,540,989.37 annual regular allowances; non-regular allowances, N9,913,394.22 rent (annually); leave allowance, N4,956,697.11; Severance gratuity, N29,740,182.66 (after successful tenure) and furniture allowance, N29,740,182.66.

In addition, the President of the Court of Appeal receives a duty tour allowance of N100,000 (per night), Estacode, $1,300 (per night), and a motor vehicle loan, N39,653,576.88.

Speaking on the bill’s signing into law, the special adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen Basheer Lado, said this decisive action highlights President Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to prioritising the welfare of Nigerian workers, similar to his recent decision to temporarily halt a Federal Executive Council meeting to approve the new National Minimum Wage Bill of N70,000.

He explained that the new legislation outlines salaries and benefits for Judicial Officers, adapting to contemporary realities. It also amends Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries, Allowances, etc.) Act, No. 6, 2002 (as amended) to remove provisions concerning Judicial Office Holders.

Key features of the Act include the establishment of salaries, allowances, and additional benefits for Judicial Officers and the amendment to exclude Judicial Office Holders from the previous Act.

Lado said, “Through this act of visionary leadership and genuine concern for the Nigerian populace, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCON, has reaffirmed his commitment to the welfare of our nation’s workforce by endorsing the updated Salaries and Allowances for Judicial Office Holders.”

“This pivotal decision showcases the President’s dedication to ensuring that every salary earner in Nigeria, particularly those in crucial roles, is duly recognised and compensated. By emphasising the financial well-being of our judicial officers, Mr President not only strengthens the integrity of our justice system but also establishes a new benchmark for leadership that appreciates the hard work and sacrifices of all Nigerian workers,” he said.

Lado praised Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abass Tajudeen and members of the 10th National Assembly for prioritising the populace’s well-being by passing and forwarding the executive Bill, which the President has now promptly signed.

Lado urged judicial officeholders nationwide to renew their efforts to ensure justice is delivered swiftly, emphasising the significance of the President’s action in enhancing their welfare.

“The judiciary remains a beacon of hope for the common man, and it is essential that Nigerians seeking justice receive it, regardless of their status,” Lado said.

Meanwhile, prominent lawyers have commended the president for signing into law the 300 per cent increase in the salaries, allowances, and benefits of Nigerian judicial officers.

According to them, it’s a new dawn for judicial officers in the country.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Abdul Balogun, expects more efficiency from the judges with the increase in their salaries.

“The increase in their salaries is a welcome development, and I commend the president for signing the new salary scale into law.  Our judges work under very harsh conditions, which should not be so because they occupy a compassionate office.

“As it is, there is no excuse from our judges not to deliver”, he said.

Constitutional lawyer, Barrister Bernard Ugo, commended the president and the National Assembly for the initiative to raise the salaries of judicial officers in the country.

According to him, the judges have been neglected for many years.

“If you know the kind of job our judges do and what they go through while carrying out their duties, you will know that they are doing a thankless job.

“The truth is that they deserve more if you consider the number of cases they have to hear, write rulings and judgements and deliver them, and these judgements and rulings have deadlines, so this should tell you that they deserve more.

“In all, they owe it as a duty to do what is right and live up to their oath of office they have taken”, he said.

Another lawyer, Mr Bello Kusheriki, said the judges deserve more. However, he also called on the judges to live above board in the discharge of their duties as they are being scrutinised daily by members of the public.

“The new salary scale is tonic to motivate them to do justice without fear or favour,”  Kusheriki stated.