The Nigerian Senate has approved a 300% salary increase for judicial officers, just days after Senate President, Godswill Akpabio proposed maintaining the N30,000 minimum wage for workers.
The bill, which Chief Bola Tinubu presented, aims to enhance the salaries, allowances, and benefits for judicial officers in the country.
The decision came after the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters submitted a report to the lawmakers. 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,” was passed by the Senate on Wednesday.
According to the new bill, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) will now receive a total monthly package of ₦5,385,047.26. Justices of the Supreme Court will earn ₦4,213,192.54 monthly, while the President of the Court of Appeal is set to receive ₦4,478,415.78. Justices of the Court of Appeal will earn ₦3,726,665.40 monthly.
Furthermore, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of state High Courts, Grand Khadis of State Sharia Courts of Appeal, and Presidents of state Customary Courts of Appeal will all receive a monthly package of ₦3,527,022.61.
The House of Representatives had earlier passed the bill on March 20, 2024, which proposed a substantial upward review of salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for judicial office holders. The bill had passed through its Third Reading in the lower chamber before being adopted by the Senate.
This substantial increase in salaries and allowances for judicial officers comes amid ongoing discussions about the country’s minimum wage.
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