On Tuesday, President Bola Tinubu forwarded a letter to the National Assembly, requesting the passage of a new bill that proposes revised salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits for judicial officers across the country.
Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read the letter titled: “Transmission of the judicial office holders salaries and allowances etc bill 2024” dated March 19, 2024.
The proposed bill aims to prescribe compensation for judicial officers, addressing the long-standing issue of inadequate remuneration.
It was titled: “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries, Allowances, and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and for Related Matters.
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Tinubu’s letter read:
“In accordance with the provisions of Section 58(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), I forward, herewith, the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 for the kind consideration of the House of Representatives.
“The Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Bill, 2024 seeks to prescribe salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers, to end the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities.
“The bill, which establishes a new legal framework for the remuneration of judicial officers, will also ensure significant improvement in the welfare, capacity and independence of the judiciary.
“Whilst I hope that the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Bill, 2024 will be carefully yet expeditiously considered and passed by the House of Representatives, please accept, Rt Hon Speaker, the assurances of my highest esteem.”
The House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary had invited the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, along with the Secretary of the National Judicial Council, to discuss the challenges faced by judicial officials regarding their pay and welfare.
