The Senate has passed a bill aiming to elevate the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, following its second reading on Thursday, May 9.
The bill, titled “A bill for an act to prescribe the salaries, allowances and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria and for related matters (2024)”, was sponsored by Senator Ashiru Yisa, the deputy majority leader of the Senate.
The proposed legislation, which received unanimous support, mirrors the House of Representatives’ decision on March 20, where it was passed with provisions for monthly packages of N5.39 million for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), N4.21 million for Justices of the Supreme Court, and N4.48 million for the President of the Court of Appeal.
Additionally, the bill outlines the monthly packages for other judicial officers, including Justices of the Court of Appeal and Chief Judges of various courts, with specific allowances such as leave allowances, estacode, and duty tour allowances.
President Bola Tinubu’s endorsement of the bill, emphasizing its role in enhancing the judiciary’s independence and capacity, was also highlighted during the Senate proceedings. Senator Yisa underscored the importance of aligning remuneration with contemporary socio-economic realities to improve the welfare, capacity, and independence of the judiciary.
Acknowledging President Tinubu’s initiative, Senator Barau Jibrin commended the move, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing the welfare of judicial officers to ensure a robust judicial system free from corruption and capable of delivering fair judgments.
Senator Mohammed Monguno emphasized that enhancing the welfare of judges would safeguard against corruption, while Senator Orji Uzor Kalu expressed his support for the executive’s decision to increase judicial salaries.
Consequently, the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further legislative input and instructed the committee to report back within four weeks.
