A bill proposing a new structure of salaries and allowances for judicial officers in the country has passed the third reading at the House of Representatives.

President Bola Tinubu had forwarded a letter along with the executive bill to the house of representatives on Tuesday, urging swift passage of the proposed legislation.

In the letter, the president said the bill seeks to end the “prolonged stagnation” of the remuneration of judicial officers.

“The judicial office holders salaries and allowances bill seeks to prescribe salaries and allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officials to end the prolonged stagnation in their remuneration and to reflect contemporary socio-economic realities,” Tinubu said in the letter.

On Wednesday, the lower legislative chamber passed the bill after the third reading.

In the breakdown of the bill, the chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) will receive a monthly salary of N5.4 million, amounting to N64.8 million per annum.

The breakdown of the remuneration shows that the CJN will receive a monthly basic salary of N1.1 million, and N4.3 million in regular allowances.

The annual pay includes various components such as personal assistant allowance of N3.6 million, hardship allowance of N6.7 million, entertainment allowance of N6 million, utility allowance of N4 million, outfit allowance of N3.3 million, journal subscription allowance of N2 million, medical allowance of N5.3 million, long service allowance of N1.3 million, restricted or forced lifestyle allowance of N6.7 million, dual responsibility allowance of N2.9 million, and legal researchers’ allowance of N6.9 million.

The bill also proposes N61.4 million annually for justices of the supreme court.

Also, justices of the Supreme Court are to earn N61.4 million annually and N9.9 million annual basic salary.

The breakdown includes: motor vehicle allowance, N7.4 million; personal assistant N2.4 million; hardship N4.9 million; domestic staff N7.4 million; entertainment N4.4 million; utilities N2.9 million; outfit N2.4 million; journal subscription N1.4 million; medical N3.9 million; long service allowance N991,339; restricted or forced lifestyle N4.9 and legal researchers N6.9 million.

Each justice is also entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan and a severance package of N29.7 million.

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn N62.4 million allowance, comprising N9.9 million annually and N52.5 million regular allowances.

The President of the Court of Appeal is also entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan and a severance package of N29.7 million.

Other justices of the Court of Appeal are to get a total of N52.6 million as total allowances. The breakdown shows that N7.9 million is the annual basic salary and N44.1 million as regular allowances.

Others

Also, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Grand Kadi FCT Shariah Court of Appeal, President of FCT Customary Court, Chief Judge of State High Court, Grand Kadi State Shariah Court of Appeal and President State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn the same salaries and allowances.

For this category, the annual basic salary is N7.9 million and N42.3 million as annual regular allowances.

Also, the severance gratuity and motor vehicle loan are N23.9 million and N31.9 million respectively.

The Cable/PT