The Senate has yesterday approved a bill granting a 300 percent salary increase for federal and state judicial officers. The decision followed the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC-Borno North), when he presented its report to the lawmakers. This approval was in response to an executive bill submitted by President Bola Tinubu, aimed at enhancing salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for judicial officers and workers.
As it is, the House of Representatives have already passes the bill and it is waiting for the president’s assent, and this will mean the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will have an annual salary of N64 million.
More so, the President of the Court of Appeal will receive N62.4 million, while Justices of the Supreme Court will each earn N61.4 million.
Heads of various courts, such as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, and the President of the National Industrial Court, will all have a basic annual salary of N7.9 million.
Senator Monguno stated that the proposed legislation is timely and appropriate, noting that the increase in judicial officers’ remuneration is long overdue given the current economic conditions and high inflation.
He added that the increment has been included in the 2024 Appropriation Act.