The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s proposal to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officeholders by 300 per cent.
The AGF urged The Senate to pass the bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries and Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and Related Matters, 2024,” at a public hearing on Monday.
The hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC – Borno North).
In his presentation, Fagbemi noted the historical challenges in improving judicial remuneration.
He noted that the judiciary has been on the same salary scale for over 16 years, describing this stagnation as unacceptable and a hindrance to meaningful judicial reform.
Furthermore, Fagbemi strongly urged the Senate to support and pass the bill in the national interest to promote the rule of law.
“I wish to remark that the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Bill 2024 is quite innovative, aside from the increment in the basic salary, it also took cognizance of certain peculiarities of the administrative structure and operation of the judiciary.
“This Bill will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity.
“The present-day but sad reality is that the judiciary has stagnated on the same salary scale for over 16 years, this is totally unacceptable and quite antithetical to any meaningful judicial reform.
“I strongly commend this Bill for your kind consideration and do urge the Senate to support and ensure the passage of this Bill in the national interest of promoting the rule of law.”
Fagbemi also added that there are plans in place to establish a Working Group for a comprehensive review of the Constitution and other relevant laws in consultation with the judiciary and key stakeholders.
He added: “In consultation with the judiciary and other key stakeholders, we are also interested in ensuring a holistic review of our judicial system to respond to the justice needs of Nigeria.
“This is why I am taking immediate/urgent steps to establish a Working Group on the review of the Constitution and other relevant laws. The Working Group will, among others, focus on the key provisions aimed at achieving the judiciary that responds to the evolving justice needs of Nigerians.
“At the appropriate time, and I promise very soon, we will come up with proposals for Constitutional and Statutory reforms of the Judiciary in particular, and the Administration of the Justice System in general.”
The proposal also received support from the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMAFC), among others.
