Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed a bill for upward review of the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial officers, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria now expected to earn a monthly salary of N5.39m.
In the executive bill submitted to the House on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu and passed on Wednesday, other justices of the Supreme Court are to earn a total monthly package of N4.21m, while the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn a total monthly package of N4.48m.
The justices of the Court of Appeal will 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 of 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.
Also, the House 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.
The bill seeks to amend Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act, No. 6, 2002 (as amended) by deleting Section 2(b), Part II of the Schedule to the Act, and any other provisions relating to judicial office holders.
When signed into law, the legislation will take effect from January 1, 2024.