The Senate has taken a step towards improving the welfare of judicial officers in Nigeria by passing a bill to increase their salaries and allowances.
The bill, which scaled second reading on Thursday, May 9, seeks to prescribe the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Ashiru Yisa (APC-Kwara South), provides a monthly package of N5.39 million for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), while Justices of the Supreme Court will earn a total package of N4.21 million. The President of the Court of Appeal will earn a total monthly package of N4.48 million, while Justices of the Court of Appeal will earn N3.73 million.
Other judicial officers, including the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, and Chief Judge of State High Courts, will earn a monthly package of N3.53 million. The bill also provides for additional allowances, including leave allowances, estacode, duty tour allowances, and severance gratuity of N80.78 million after successful completion of tenure.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier proposed a salary increase for judicial officers, arguing that it would promote the independence and capacity of the Nigerian judiciary system.
Senator Yisa, in his lead debate, noted that the proposed legal framework would bring about significant improvement in the welfare, capacity, and independence of the judiciary, which have been contentious issues of public discourse over the years.
