Senate Initiates Review Of Judicial Officers’ Compensation And Benefits
The Nigerian Senate has commenced efforts to revise the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial officers across the country with the aim of combating bribery and corruption while safeguarding the independence of the judiciary.
During Thursday’s session, an executive bill proposing the establishment of standardized salaries for judicial office holders at both federal and state levels passed its second reading. The bill seeks to address the prolonged stagnation in remuneration to align with current socio-economic conditions.
Although the bill received unanimous support, some lawmakers raised concerns about the need to review the salaries and remuneration of workers in other sectors, especially considering the prevailing economic challenges.
Following deliberations, the bill was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for further scrutiny, with a mandate to report back within four weeks.
This move comes after President Bola Tinubu submitted a bill to the Senate two months ago, urging lawmakers to reassess the salaries of judicial officers nationwide.
In a letter read during a plenary session on March 20 by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu highlighted the necessity of approving the bill to establish a new legal framework for enhancing the welfare of judicial officers.
President Tinubu expressed optimism that the proposed bill, titled “Judicial Office Holders, Salaries and Allowances, etc., Bill 2024,” would contribute to bolstering the welfare, capacity, and independence of Nigeria’s judicial system.
