The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja has ordered the Federal Government to immediately review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country. The Court holds that the current salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country is not only abysmally low but embarrassing to the nation .
Justice Obaseki-Osagie gave the order on Friday in the suit asking the court to compel the defendants to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in Nigeria that the current economic reality requires that the salaries and allowances of the country’s judges be urgently improved upon.
The court therefore ordered the Federal Government to commence a monthly payment of N10 million to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN and N9 million to other justices of the Supreme Court and President of the Court of Appeal. Other justices of the appellate court are to receive N8 million monthly along with the Chief Judges of both Federal and State High Courts. Judges of the Federal and State High Courts are to be paid N7 million as monthly entitlement.
Justice Obaseki-Osagie in his judgement held that the refusal of the government to review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers for 14 years was unconstitutional, unlawful and against human consciousness.
In the suit filed by the Benue State-born Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sebastian Hon he asked the court to compel the defendants to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in the country that the current economic reality in the country requires that the salaries and allowances of the nation’s judges be urgently improved upon.
The plaintiff noted that the highest-paid judicial officer in the country who is the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN currently earns about N3.4 million annually, far below what is earned by such an officer in other countries.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
