The Senate has passed a bill to increase the salaries, allowances, and benefits of judicial officers across the country.
News About Nigeria gathered that the bill received overwhelming support from senators, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio announcing its passage following a voice vote.
The legislation, which was reviewed and approved by the Committee of the Whole, is set to uplift the financial standing of the judiciary.
This development follows a report presented by Tahir Monguno, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters.
The bill outlines a monthly compensation package of N5,385,047.26 for the CJN, N4,478,415.78 for the President of the Court of Appeal, and N4,213,192.54 for Supreme Court justices.
Other judicial positions, including the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the President of the National Industrial Court, and various other high-ranking judicial roles, will see their monthly packages rise to N3,527,022.61.
The nature of the bill also covers severance gratuity and motor vehicle loans, set at N23.9 million and N31.9 million, respectively, for the top judicial officers.
President Tinubu had initially submitted the bill to the Senate in March, stating that it was necessary to bolster the judiciary’s welfare and operational independence.
In his letter to the Senate, he said that the bill would promote the capacity and independence of Nigeria’s judicial system.
While presenting the committee’s findings, Monguno said the bill was urgent, lamenting the prolonged period since the last review of judicial officers’ compensation.
He argued that the increment was not only overdue but also essential for ensuring the judiciary’s effectiveness and fairness in justice delivery.
Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for the retirement benefits of judicial officers.
The bill got unanimous support from the Senate, with no senator opposing the report during the voting process.
Senate President Akpabio commended the committee members and the entire Senate for their collective effort in supporting the bill.
