The Chief Justice of the Federation and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Olukayode Ariwoola, has issued a stern warning that Nigerians will continue to suffer from the nation’s judiciary system until the salaries, allowances, and official benefits of judges are substantially increased.
At a public hearing in Abuja on a “Bill for an Act to prescribe the salaries and allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria and related matters bill 2024,” organized by the Senate Committee on Judiciary on Monday, Human Rights and Legal Matters, stakeholders in the nation’s judiciary threw their weight behind the proposed legislation, which seeks to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers by 300 percent.
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Ariwoola, who was represented by Justice Kashim Zannah, the Chief Judge of Borno State, lamented that the salaries and emoluments of judicial officers were last reviewed in 2007, a situation he described as “a patient under intensive care who needs serious medical attention.”
Ariwoola stated, “It has been 17 years, earning the same amount despite the tumultuous depreciation in purchasing power, while other sectors have theirs renewed several times over the period.
“Judicial officers have been in silence. As a simple illustration, the exchange rate of the dollar was $130.25 as at the time the salary was fixed in 2007, and this exchange rate can be found at page eleven of the June 2009 Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission review report that is the source of the exchange rate as of the time it was fixed.
“When judges are well compensated, yes, they do their best. But actually, as clearly demonstrated, the real interest that is being looked at is the interest of these citizens, because they will be the ones who suffer the consequences of a deprived Judiciary.”
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), explained that the proposal for a 300 percent increase was informed by “prevailing economic realities of increasing headline and core inflationary trends, putting in place an enabling working environment that engenders professional development and efficiency for judicial officers.”
“Based on the foregoing and the expressed concerns of His Excellency, the President over matters of improving welfare and standards in the judiciary, promoting capacity, independence and confidence in the Nigerian judiciary; I recommended the NJC proposal for the President’s consideration on 19th October 2023,” Fagbemi said.
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“On 20th October 2023, the President granted an unprecedented approval of a 300 percent increment in the remuneration of judicial officers.” He added
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would continue with the legacy he left behind in Lagos, where he improved the standard of living for judicial officers.
Edun stated, “It is a continuation of that tradition that is now coming into effect and an attempt and an initiative to improve the lot of the judiciary.”
The stakeholders demanded a yearly increment in their annual salaries and a four-year periodic review of their salaries and emoluments in accordance with international standards, lamenting that some judicial officers have been involved in acts not expected of a learned silk due to the poor remuneration in the last 17 years.
