Ayade motivates judges

Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has decried the poor salary structure of judges in Nigeria.

Ayade, while swearing-in Justice Maurice Eneji as the new President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal and four new High Court judges and four Customary Court judges, said despite the lean financial resources, Cross River would be the torchbearer in upping the standard of living of judges by reviewing their salaries.

The governor said he would meet with the state House of Assembly to ensure the new salary structure for judges takes effect by the first of March.

He said: “This is a very clear statement that will charge the whole federation to look into the issue of the salary of judges.

“From the 1st of March, the salary of our judicial officers in Cross River State will be changed for good. We will increase your salaries so that other states can know that Cross River, which is number 35 out of 36 states in terms of federal allocation, can increase the salary of judges.

“If Cross River State can increase the salary of judges which state will not increase? It is a way to compel them to increase the salary of judges because it is sad that you put a man in such a sensitive position and expose him to temptation by leaving him on the same salary scale for 13 years.”

Ayade admonished the new judges to “be shining stars, be agents of change that will bring fairness, justice, goodness, kindness and sincerity to the judiciary as a whole.

He reminded them that both the common man and the elite solely depend on the judiciary for justice as the last bastion of hope and must not, therefore, compromise justice.

In his remarks, Justice Eneji, who was a one-time acting Chief Judge of the state, described Ayade as the most judiciary-friendly governor, recalling that the governor assumed office and was able to calm frayed nerves.