President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a letter to the National Assembly, urging the passage of a new bill aimed at revising salaries and allowances for judicial officers across Nigeria. The proposed legislation seeks to address longstanding concerns regarding the remuneration and welfare of judicial officials. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and for Related Matters,” the bill aims to establish a new framework for the remuneration of judicial officers.
In the letter addressed to the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of updating judicial salaries and allowances to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities. He highlighted the need to end the prolonged stagnation in remuneration and to enhance the welfare, capacity, and independence of the judiciary. The bill, if passed, would provide significant improvements in the compensation package for judicial officers, aligning it with current standards and ensuring fairness and equity.
The move comes amidst growing agitation for improved pay and benefits for judicial officers nationwide. Recently, during a valedictory court session, retired Justice Musa Dattijo of the Supreme Court highlighted the disparity in salaries between justices and other court officials, underscoring the need for reform. In response, the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary has invited key stakeholders, including government officials and representatives from judicial bodies, for deliberations on the matter.
