JUST IN: Court orders salary increase for CJN and Nigerian judges
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja on Friday ordered a substantial increase in the salaries of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and other Nigerian judges.
Trial Judge Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae issued the order in her judgment, saying "the judges have been victims of a great injustice" and describing their low salaries as a "national disgrace".
p>She delivered judgment in a complaint filed by a senior Nigerian lawyer, Sebastine Hon, seeking an upward review of the emoluments and salaries of judges in the country.
The salaries of Nigerian judges have stagnated since 2008, when they were last reviewed.
Mr. Among other things, Hon sought in his lawsuit an order compelling the National Assembly, the Federation Attorney General and the Revenue Mobilization and Taxation Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries and allowances of the country's judges.
"It is unconstitutional and illegal for the RMAFC to refuse to review judges' salaries," Judge Ms Obaseki-Osaghae said before granting the plaintiff's prayers in her judgment on Friday.
p>She ordered that "judgment be served on the 2nd accused (AGF) immediately", criticizing Justice Minister Abubakar Malami for arguing that judges have no legal right to have their salaries reviewed at the rise.
The court ordered the RMAFC to immediately raise the salary of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to 10 million naira per month from the current 3.4 million naira per year, which would be far below what earned by their counterparts in other countries. .
The judge also ordered the RMAFC to review the salaries of other heads of courts and their judges ranging from N9 million to N7 million per month.
SuitPREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Hon had filed a lawsuit seeking an order from the National Labor Court of Nigeria (NICN) compelling the defendants - the AGF, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Assembly and the RMAFC - to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in the country.
The claimant noted that the highest paid judicial officer in the country - the Chief Justice of Nigeria, currently earns around 3.4 million naira per year, well below what such an officer earns in any country. other countries.
READ ALSO:He asked the court to order the defendants to increase the salaries and allowances of the country's judges.
Mr. Hon said that as a jurist, "who has practiced at all levels of courts in Nigeria, I know that the low remuneration of judicial officers seriously affects the quality of judgments and decisions that these officers render and the discharge of other functions associated with their offices.”
He argued that the current economic reality of the country demands that the salaries and allowances of the country's judges be urgently improved.
Mr. Hon, who quoted what all magistrates currently earn under Part IIB of the Schedule to the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc.) Act 2008, said the paltry sums had discouraged him from aspiring to become a judge.
He pointed out that it has been about 14 years since judges' salaries and allowances were last revised upwards in 2008 despite the naira losing value against other global currencies like the US dollar, British pound sterling. and European Union (EU) Euro, etc.
"In November 2008, when the amended law was in force, the exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar was 117.74 naira for 1 USD.
“The naira has lost its value significantly over time; but bailiffs in Nigeria have been placed on the same salary scale till 12 years old i.e. since 2008,” he said.
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The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja on Friday ordered a substantial increase in the salaries of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and other Nigerian judges.
Trial Judge Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae issued the order in her judgment, saying "the judges have been victims of a great injustice" and describing their low salaries as a "national disgrace".
p>She delivered judgment in a complaint filed by a senior Nigerian lawyer, Sebastine Hon, seeking an upward review of the emoluments and salaries of judges in the country.
The salaries of Nigerian judges have stagnated since 2008, when they were last reviewed.
Mr. Among other things, Hon sought in his lawsuit an order compelling the National Assembly, the Federation Attorney General and the Revenue Mobilization and Taxation Commission (RMAFC) to increase the salaries and allowances of the country's judges.
"It is unconstitutional and illegal for the RMAFC to refuse to review judges' salaries," Judge Ms Obaseki-Osaghae said before granting the plaintiff's prayers in her judgment on Friday.
p>She ordered that "judgment be served on the 2nd accused (AGF) immediately", criticizing Justice Minister Abubakar Malami for arguing that judges have no legal right to have their salaries reviewed at the rise.
The court ordered the RMAFC to immediately raise the salary of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to 10 million naira per month from the current 3.4 million naira per year, which would be far below what earned by their counterparts in other countries. .
The judge also ordered the RMAFC to review the salaries of other heads of courts and their judges ranging from N9 million to N7 million per month.
SuitPREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Hon had filed a lawsuit seeking an order from the National Labor Court of Nigeria (NICN) compelling the defendants - the AGF, the National Judicial Council (NJC), the National Assembly and the RMAFC - to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in the country.
The claimant noted that the highest paid judicial officer in the country - the Chief Justice of Nigeria, currently earns around 3.4 million naira per year, well below what such an officer earns in any country. other countries.
READ ALSO:He asked the court to order the defendants to increase the salaries and allowances of the country's judges.
Mr. Hon said that as a jurist, "who has practiced at all levels of courts in Nigeria, I know that the low remuneration of judicial officers seriously affects the quality of judgments and decisions that these officers render and the discharge of other functions associated with their offices.”
He argued that the current economic reality of the country demands that the salaries and allowances of the country's judges be urgently improved.
Mr. Hon, who quoted what all magistrates currently earn under Part IIB of the Schedule to the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc.) Act 2008, said the paltry sums had discouraged him from aspiring to become a judge.
He pointed out that it has been about 14 years since judges' salaries and allowances were last revised upwards in 2008 despite the naira losing value against other global currencies like the US dollar, British pound sterling. and European Union (EU) Euro, etc.
"In November 2008, when the amended law was in force, the exchange rate between the naira and the US dollar was 117.74 naira for 1 USD.
“The naira has lost its value significantly over time; but bailiffs in Nigeria have been placed on the same salary scale till 12 years old i.e. since 2008,” he said.
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
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