President Bola Tinubu submitted a bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday proposing an increase in salaries and allowances for Nigerian judicial officers.
The bill, which has already been approved by the House of Representatives, would see the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) earn N64 million annually.
This includes an N13.5 million annual basic salary and N51.2 million as regular allowances for various expenses such as housing, entertainment, and medical care.
The proposed breakdown of allowances for the CJN includes: Personal Assistant Allowance: (N3.6 million), Hardship Allowance (N6.7 million), Entertainment Allowance (N6 million), Utilities Allowance (N4 million), Outfit Allowance (N3.3 million), Journal Subscription Allowance (N2 million), Medical Allowance (N5.3 million), Long Service Allowance (N1.3 million), Restricted or Forced Lifestyle Allowance (N6.7 million), Dual Responsibility Allowance (N2.9 million) and Legal Researchers Allowance (N6.9 million)
The bill also proposes benefits such as a N53 million optional motor vehicle loan, N6.7 million annual leave allowance, and a $2,000 per night estacode for foreign trips.
In addition, each justice is entitled to a N39.7 million vehicle loan and a N29.7 million severance package.
While other justices on the Supreme Court would receive N61.4 million per year, with a base salary of N9.9 million and N51.5 million in allowances.
The President of the Court of Appeal would see a similar increase, bringing their total compensation to N62.4 million annually, comprising N9.9 million annually and N52.5 million in regular allowances.
The President of the Court of Appeal is entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan and a severance package of N29.7 million.
The proposed salary increase extends to other judicial positions as well.
Judges in lower courts, including the Federal High Court and State High Courts, would receive N52.6 million annually.
The breakdown shows that N7.9 million is the annual basic salary and N44.1 million is the regular allowance.
In addition, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Kadi FCT Shariah Court of Appeal, President of the FCT Customary Court, Chief Judge of the State High Court, Grand Kadi State Shariah Court of Appeal, and President of the State Customary Court of Appeal will all be paid the same salary and allowances.
This category’s annual basic salary is N7.9 million, with an additional N42.3 million in annual regular allowances while the severance gratuity and motor vehicle loan total N23.9 million and N31.9 million, respectively.
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