The Senate, on Wednesday, approved a bill that grants a 300 percent salary increase for judicial officers at both federal and state levels.
The approval came after the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, led by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC-Borno North), presented its findings to the Senate.
The bill, originally submitted by President Bola Tinubu, aims to enhance the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial officers and staff.
Should the House of Representatives also pass the bill and it receives presidential assent, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will have an annual salary of N64 million.
The President of the Court of Appeal will receive N62.4 million, while Supreme Court Justices will earn N61.4 million each annually.
Heads of various courts, including the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, and the President of the National Industrial Court, will have a basic annual salary of N7.9 million.
Senator Monguno emphasized the timeliness and necessity of the legislation, noting that the salary increase for judicial officers is overdue given the current economic conditions and high inflation.
He also mentioned that the increment is accounted for in the 2024 Appropriation Act.
