In a significant move, the Nigerian Senate has approved a 300% salary increase for judicial officers.

The bill, presented by Chief Bola Tinubu, aims to enhance the salaries, allowances, and benefits for judicial officers across the country.

The decision followed the submission of a comprehensive report by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. The bill, officially 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.

Under 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.

Further beneficiaries of this increase include 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, all of whom will receive a monthly package of ₦3,527,022.61.

This bill had already been approved by the House of Representatives on March 20, 2024, after passing its Third Reading in the lower chamber. The House’s earlier decision proposed a substantial upward review of salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for judicial office holders, which the Senate has now ratified.

The significant increase in judicial salaries comes amidst ongoing discussions and debates over the country’s minimum wage, which remains at N30,000. Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s recent proposal to maintain the minimum wage at its current level until resolutions are closed has sparked controversy, highlighting the disparity between the financial treatment of judicial officers and average workers.

As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the decision to significantly raise judicial salaries while keeping the minimum wage static may fuel further debate on income disparity and economic policies within the country.

Credit: Parallel Facts