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NBA President’s Love Letter Spurs Salary Increase for Judicial Officials

This landmark decision by the House of Representatives underscores the government’s commitment to promoting the welfare of judicial officers and ensuring the effective administration of justice in Nigeria.

Published

1 month ago

March 20, 2024

Stella Charles Akupue

NBA President's Love Letter Spurs Salary Increase for Judicial Officials

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2024, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON SAN, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, took a bold step to express his concerns over the welfare of judicial officials in Nigeria. In a heartfelt love letter addressed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Maikyau highlighted the pressing need for salary reviews and other benefits for the judiciary.

Today, Maikyau’s letter has yielded remarkable results. The House of Representatives has approved President Tinubu’s request to increase judicial officers’ salaries, allowances, and other benefits nationwide. This significant development marks a milestone in addressing longstanding concerns regarding judicial officials’ remuneration.

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During a session on Wednesday, March 20, the lower chamber of the National Assembly passed into law an act prescribing the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders. The legislative action follows an executive bill presented by President Tinubu, seeking to enhance the compensation packages of judicial officers and workers in Nigeria. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen introduced the bill during plenary on Tuesday, March 19, signalling the government’s commitment to addressing the welfare needs of the judiciary.

Under the newly approved legislation, significant adjustments have been made to the salary structure of various judicial positions. For instance, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) will now receive a total monthly package of N5,385,047.26, reflecting a substantial increase from previous levels.

Justices of the Supreme Court are slated to earn a total package of N4,213,192.54, while the President of the Court of Appeal is set to receive N4,478,415.78 monthly. Additionally, justices of the Court of Appeal will enjoy a total monthly package of N3,726,665.40.

Other key judicial positions, including the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, and Chief Judges of state High Courts, among others, will also benefit from enhanced compensation packages ranging from N3,527,022.61 to N3,775,707.70 monthly.

In addition to basic salaries, the reviewed package covers various regular allowances such as motor vehicle fueling and maintenance, personal assistance, hardship, entertainment, utilities, security, outfit, journal subscriptions, medical benefits, and service allowances.

Furthermore, judicial officials will receive leave allowances, estacode allowances, duty tour allowances, and severance gratuity upon the successful completion of their tenure.

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NBA President Appeals to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for Judicial Sector Reform and Salary Review

As you already know, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the umbrella body of all lawyers
admitted to practice law in Nigeria and committed to promoting the rule of law in Nigeria.
And as the voice of the people, particularly the less privileged in society, we shall continue
to stand in faith with our responsibility as socio-economic and political change agents in the
society.

We have severally, since the beginning of my administration, made calls for the reform of the
Justice Sector. While this remains our call on the government, I must state that the negative
perception of the Judiciary is an issue that must be dealt with decisively by all, not only members
of the legal profession or left to the judiciary alone.

I have since called the judiciary to constantly remember that we all have been called to dispense justice to the people for the effective functioning of society. In doing this, members of the bench must serve justice and ensure that justice is seen to have been served.

Beyond dispensing justice, judicial officers are under an additional duty to persuade or convince the public for whom justice is served that, indeed, justice has been served in any given situation. This is impossible to achieve when public confidence in the judiciary has waned.

“the legal practitioner lives for the direction of his people and the advancement of the
cause of his country.” – Sir Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams

Therefore, judicial officers must carefully observe the regulations and code of ethics in performing this all-important function. This ensures that the public always perceives the Bench as being just and fair and makes their decisions more readily acceptable to the people as justice. This standard is no more for the judiciary than the executive and the legislature.

The primary responsibility of all the arms of government is to deliver justice to the governed. The judiciary must be protected and respected for the effective working of the Executive and the legislature.

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Dealing with the challenges in the judiciary cannot be the sole business of the judiciary. The executive and legislature must support the judiciary and, in doing so, must not be seen as compromising that institution.

Part of this support would be to seriously consider constitutional amendments that will ensure the reform of the judiciary and other institutions in the justice sector to bring it to optimal performance in the dispensation of justice. This will fundamentally herald the restoration of peace and security in Nigeria.

I would be remiss not to acknowledge your excellency for the quick and remarkable progress made in the welfare of judicial officers. For the first time since 2007, the upward review of
the salaries and allowances of judicial officers is favourably considered by this
administration.

This includes some radical improvements in the statutory handling of these matters, which continually guarantees the independence of the judiciary. The provision of N341,625,739,236.00 for the Judiciary in the 2024 Appropriation Act is a testament to Your Excellency’s commitment to the welfare of judicial officers and the independence of the Judiciary.

This budgetary provision is the first of its kind in this nation’s history. It is certainly not unconnected with your disposition towards the judiciary and the choice of a Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, CON, who must have brought to bear his understanding of the importance of a stable justice sector for effective economic growth in any economy.

The Bar is grateful for your responsiveness to our demands on behalf of the judiciary and the legal profession. To complete this task in this preliminary stage of your administration’s resolve to reform the justice sector, we request that the 11 (eleven) Justices appointed to the Supreme Court and confirmed by the Senate be sworn in to enable them to assume their constitutional responsibilities at the nation’s apex court.

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I must also commend the efforts of the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef O.
Fagbemi, SAN, who has relentlessly ensured this upward review is achieved speedily. We also recognise the reception extended to the NBA by the leadership of the National Assembly when we advocated for the upward review of judicial salaries and allowances to the parliament.

I particularly note the uncommon welcome by the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the sagacious intervention of the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who are both members of the Nigerian Bar.

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN

NBA President.

If you missed the State of the Nation address and the detailed love letter sent by the NBA president to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Click the link below to access the full address.

NBA-LETTER-TO-PRESIDENT-TINUBU-1 Download

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