The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, has said that there is the need to urgently review upwards the salary of judges as it was last done 17 years ago.
Ariwoola, who also chairs the National Judicial Council, said this on Monday at a hearing organised by the Senate.
The public hearing was on: “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries and Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Officeholders in Nigeria and Related Matters Bill, 2024.”
It was organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.
Ariwoola, who was represented by the Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah, said: “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.
“It has been 17 years earning the same amount despite the tumultuous depreciation in the purchasing power, while other sectors have theirs reviewed several times over the period.
“Judicial officers have been in silence.
“As a simple illustration, the exchange rate of the US dollar was N130.25 at the time the salary was fixed in 2007 and this exchange rate can be found on page 11 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.
“Therefore, as of 2007 when the salaries were fixed, a judge’s monthly gross pay before tax of N661,738 divided by 130.25 equal to $5,080.
“Today, when divided by just N1,500, it is $441.
“A salary of $5,080 has now dwindled to $441 only when it was fixed.
“In today’s terms, the value is equal to N7,000,600.”
Ariwoola praised President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare of judicial officers.
The CJN said: “However, by the historic instrumentality of the 10th National Assembly, and unequalled disposition of Mr President to enhance the administration of justice, the current appropriation law captures an anticipated equivalent of the above example at a gross monthly salary of N3.2 million.
“Now, notwithstanding the foregoing, we know with profound appreciation that the table captures that we are bringing what the Honourable Attorney General said the President approved as the 300 percent increase, and which by the instrumentality of this distinguished Senate was already captured.
“It is evident from the foregoing that even the appropriated salary package is less than half the value of the salaries that were fixed in 2007.
“Distinguished Senators, in a nutshell, what we are saying is this: The situation of judges across Nigeria is like one on a critical condition in the ICU.
“The proposed bill would stabilise the patient.
“The captain in the appropriation door would have him moved from the ICU to the general ward.
“When a patient is in that condition, you don’t start physiotherapy at the ICU.
“You make sure he is stabilised, move to the general ward, gain some strength, and then you now look at physiotherapy and all other therapists.
“That is the nutshell of our presentation.
“Do move quickly the patient out of the ICU to the general ward and then, we will come.
“For now, let’s stabilise the patient, move him out of ICU and then we can talk about the rest later.”
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also supported the call for the increase in salaries of judges in the country.
Fagbemi said: “Let me commence by commending the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and this committee for their continuing commitment to advancing the administration of justice and promoting the welfare of the judiciary.
“Distinguished Senators may kindly note that the efforts to improve the remuneration of our judicial officers have a chequered history.
“These efforts commenced with the previous administration with the setting up of a Committee on the Review of Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service (HAGF Committee) by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in 2018.
“It will be recalled that the HAGF Committee’s mandate was meant to serve as a special presidential intervention designed to improve the working condition of judicial officers and institutionalise a specialised system that would reasonably guarantee the welfare of our judicial officers.
“However, the recommendations of the committee were not actioned.”
Fagbemi said in the committee’s report, between May 1999 and March 2011, the Federal Government reviewed the salaries and allowances of public servants and political officeholders on four occasions: 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011.
He said new regimes of national minimum wage were also put in place within the same period, adding: “This bill will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity.
“I strongly commend this bill for your kind consideration and I do urge the Senate to support and ensure the passage of this bill in the national interest of promoting the rule of law.
Also Read:
- Weah, Shaibu, others commission Primate Ayodele’s new church building
- I won’t be a widow by now if Akeredolu had listened to me — Wife
- Tinubu salutes Bishop Oke on reelection as PFN National President
- NDDC promotes girl child education in Niger Delta
- SmackDown set for Valentine Day Special on GOtv
“The present-day but sad reality is that the judiciary has stagnated on the same salary scale for over 16 years.
“This is totally unacceptable and quite antithetical to any meaningful judicial reform.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
