…. recommends N10million monthly salary for CJN
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) in Abuja on Friday ordered a substantial increment in the salaries of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and other Nigerian judges.
This followed a suit filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN) Mr Sebastian Hon Seeking an upward review of salaries and emoluments of Judges in the country.
Mr Hon’s prayer was based on the grounds that the salaries of judges had not received upward reviewe since 2008.
The claimant sought among others ,an order compelling the National Assembly , the Attorney General of the Federation and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMFAC).to increase the salaries and allowances of Judges in the country.
He noted that the highest paid Judicial Officer in the country, the Chief Justice of Nigeria earns about N3.4million per annum ,far below what is counterparts earn in other countries.
Mr Hon argued that the poor pay of the judges was affecting the effective discharge of their duties.
He added that he has refused to aspire to be a judge because of the paltry sum judges earn and prayed the court to compel the defendants to raise the salaries and other entitlements of the judges.
Delivering her judgement, Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae, said “judges have been victims of great injustice” describing their salaries as a “national shame”.
The judge held that “It is unconstitutional and unlawful for the RMAFC to refuse to review the salaries of judges,” ,
She ordered “the judgement is to be served on the 2nd defendant (AGF) immediately,” critising the Justice Minister, Abubakar Malami, for arguing that judges have no legal right to have their salaries reviewed upwards.
The court ordered the RMAFC to immediately raise the salary of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to N10 million monthly from the current N3.4 million per annum, said to be far below what is earned by his counterparts in other countries.
The judge also ordered the RMAFC to review the salaries of other heads of courts and their judges ranging between N9 million to N7 million monthly.
