The House of Representatives has passed a bill for an Act for upward review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in the country, with a total monthly package of N5.39m for the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
Under the bill which was submitted to the House on Tuesday by the President, other Justices of the Supreme Court are to earn a total package of N4, 213,192.54, while the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn a total monthly package of N4, 478,415.78.
Similarly, justices of the Court of Appeal are to earn a total monthly package of N3.73m while the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge state High Court and Grand Khadi of State Sharia Court of Appeal and President of state Customary Court of Appeal will earn a total monthly package of N3.53m.
The monthly package comprises basic salaries and all regular allowances, including car fueling and maintenance, personal assistance, hardship, entertainment, utilities, security, outfit, journal subscription, medicals, service allowances, restricted or forced lifestyle, dual responsibility, and legal researchers.
Similarly, the House also approved other job regular allowances that are not embedded in the total monthly package to include leave allowances estacode per night of $2,000 where applicable, duty tour allowances where applicable, severance gratuity of N80, 78m at the completion of a tenure.
There is also an option of a motor vehicle loan due for repayment before the expiration of the tenure of the officer concerned.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has similarly sent a bill to the senate proposing a new structure of salaries and allowances for judicial officers in the country.
At the plenary on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the president, seeking approval for the bill.
In the letter, the president said the bill seeks to end the “prolonged stagnation” of the remuneration of judicial officers, adding that it will improve their welfare.
“Transmission of judicial office holders’ salaries and allowances bill, 2024. In accordance with the provisions of section 58, sub-section two of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended,” Tinubu said in a letter read by Akpabio.
