The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has thrown his weight behind a proposed 300% increase in salaries and allowances for judicial office holders in Nigeria.
This endorsement came during a public hearing on a bill seeking to prescribe the remuneration and fringe benefits of judicial officers, held by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters on Monday, May 20.
Fagbemi, joined by the National Judicial Council, Nigerian Bar Association, and Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission, among others, urged the committee to support the bill, citing the need for judicial independence and integrity.
The AGF noted that the judiciary’s remuneration has stagnated for over 16 years, emphasizing the urgency for a review.
The proposed bill aims to address this issue, introducing a comprehensive remuneration package that considers the peculiarities of the judiciary’s administrative structure and operations.
He said: “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.”
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.”
Fagbemi commended the bill, urging the Senate to ensure its passage in the national interest of promoting the rule of law.
Furthermore, the AGF announced plans to establish a Working Group on the review of the Constitution and relevant laws, focusing on provisions that will enhance the judiciary’s response to Nigeria’s evolving justice needs.
He promised to present proposals for constitutional and statutory reforms of the judiciary and the administration of justice system in the near future.
