The Secretary of the National Judicial Council and the Ministers of Finance, Budget, and National Planning have been invited by the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary to discuss a deficient remuneration of judges nationwide.

The National President of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, the Chairman of the Nation’s Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister of Justice, and the President of the Nigeria Bar Association are also invited to the meeting, which is scheduled for Monday, March 25, 2024.

Justices of the Supreme court receive inadequate compensation, as retiring Justice Musa Dattijo of the Supreme Court disclosed during a farewell court session held in his honor.

 “It may interest one to know that the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court earns more than the Justices. While she earns N1.2m per month, justices take home N751, 000 in a month.

“The CJN, on his part takes home N400, 000 plus. The salary of a Justice, curiously, drops rather than increases when he gets the added responsibility of being a CJN.

“That the unjust and embarrassing salary difference between the justices and the Chief Registrar still abides remains intriguing to say the least,” Justice Dattijo had said.

In a letter titled “Case for upward review of judicial remuneration,” dated March 18, 2014, the House committee stated that the Nigerian Bar Association had also complained to it over judges’ salaries.

The letter, which was signed by Oluwole Oke, the committee chairman, stated as follows: “The NBA has submitted a document to the committee requesting a review of the pay and working conditions for judicial officers.

“In view of the above submission, the committee wishes to invite you to a more robust interactive session with other stakeholders to review the submission and educate the committee on the current situation and plans to deal with the unrealistic salary structure of the judiciary and your position on the matter.”

“We have invited them over the stagnation and poor remuneration of judges and judicial officials since 2008,” Oke, who represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, stated in a brief interview with newsmen.

“No promotion, no progression and this is very abnormal. It’s unacceptable.”