NBA Urges Nigerian Judges To Justify Pay Increase By Rebuilding Public Trust In Judiciary
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on judges across the country to justify their recent pay increase by working to rebuild public confidence in the judiciary.
In a statement, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau emphasized the need for the judiciary to demonstrate its commitment to justice and transparency, especially in light of the significant raise in remuneration recently approved by President Bola Tinubu. The new Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc.) Act 2024, which was signed into law last week, increases judges’ earnings by as much as 300 percent.
Maikyau, who credited the NBA’s persistent efforts for the pay rise, stressed that the judiciary must now work deliberately to restore public trust. “The judiciary must make a deliberate and conscious effort to work back into the hearts of Nigerians and revive public confidence in the judiciary,” he said.
He noted that the NBA’s focus moving forward will be on strengthening the judiciary through reforms in the appointment, discipline, and elevation of judicial officers. Maikyau also expressed hope that his successor, NBA President-elect Afam Osigwe, will prioritize these issues when he takes office this month.
“This law is not just a financial adjustment; it’s a statement of renewed commitment to the rule of law and judicial independence,” Maikyau added, highlighting that the new law marks a critical milestone in ensuring that judicial officers are adequately compensated. He pointed out that for 17 years, judges had been subjected to stagnant salaries that failed to reflect the demands of their office or the economic realities of the time.
The NBA President also praised the efforts of Olawale Fapohunda, a former Attorney General of Ekiti State and Chairman of the NBA Law Reform Committee, whose dedication played a pivotal role in securing the judges’ pay rise.
Looking ahead, Maikyau urged the national and state assemblies to include magistrates within the definition of Judicial Officers in the Constitution as part of the ongoing constitutional review. He emphasized that the benefits of judicial reforms must extend to the entire judiciary, including magistrates, registrars, legal assistants, and court workers, who are often the first point of contact for Nigerians seeking justice.
