The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has urged the Nigerian Senate to pass a proposed bill that would increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country by 300%.
He made this plea on Monday during a one-day public hearing on the bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries and Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and Related Matters, 2024.”
The public hearing was organized by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC – Borno North), according to Peoples Gazette.
In his presentation, Fagbemi noted, “I commend the Senate Committee for introducing this innovative bill, which not only increases the basic salary of judicial officers but also takes into account the unique aspects of the judiciary’s administrative structure and operations.”
Fagbemi’s support for the bill highlights the importance of fair compensation for judicial officers, who play a critical role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice in Nigeria.
The proposed increase in salaries and allowances aims to recognize their valuable contributions and promote the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
“This Bill will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity. The present-day but sad reality is that the judiciary has stagnated on the same salary scale for over 16 years, this is totally unacceptable and quite antithetical to any meaningful judicial reform.
“I strongly commend this Bill for your kind consideration and do urge the Senate to support and ensure the passage of this Bill in the national interest of promoting the rule of law,” the AGF stated.
Mr Fagbemi revealed that consultations are ongoing with the judiciary and other key stakeholders, as the FG wants to ensure a holistic review of the judicial system to respond to Nigeria’s justice needs.
“This is why I am taking immediate/urgent steps to establish a Working Group on the review of the Constitution and other relevant laws,” he revealed.
According to him, the working group will, among other things, focus on the key provisions aimed at achieving the judiciary that responds to the evolving justice needs of Nigerians.
“At the appropriate time, and I promise very soon, we will come up with proposals for Constitutional and Statutory reforms of the Judiciary in particular and the Administration of the Justice System in general,” he vowed.
Also throwing their weight behind the proposed increment are: the National Judicial Council, Nigerian Bar Association, and the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, and other critical stakeholders.
