President Bola Tinubu on August 9, 2024 signed the Judicial Office Holders’ Salaries and Allowances, etc) Bill, 2024 into law. It will be recalled that the bill was passed by the House of Representatives in March 2024 and later passed by the Senate in June 2024. The bill increases the salaries of judicial officers of superior courts of record listed in the Nigerian Constitution. The old salaries of judicial officers had remained the same for a period of 16 years before this Act. It also amends the provisions of the ‘Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Act 2002’ to delete the provisions relating to judicial office holders.
See the bill and new schedule of salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for judicial officers in a previous LEGIST story.
On the issue of remuneration, the House of Representatives at its plenary session on July 18, resolved to take a pay cut of 50% of Members’ salaries for a period of six months, with the funds channeled into ameliorating the living conditions of their constituents. This resolution followed a motion moved in response to the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests.
However, news reports emerged that the lawmakers were paid 100% of their salaries for July 2024. Addressing the issue in a press statement issued by the House of Representatives spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi on August 7, 2024, the House stated that the monthly salary of Members stands at N600,000 after deductions for housing. The House reaffirmed its commitment to deduct 50% of legislators’ salaries for a period of 6 months and explained that the implementation did not commence with their July salaries, as the resolution was ratified on the following legislative day, being July 23, making it impossible to have undertaken the necessary administrative procedures and co-ordination with financial institutions.
In the midst of increasing economic hardship, Nigerians have often canvassed for reduction of the cost of governance, including the salaries of elected public office holders, in particular, the salaries of legislators. These calls have often arisen as a result of the opaqueness surrounding the budget of the National Assembly and the earnings of the legislators, as well as the disconnect between the privileges lawmakers are perceived to be enjoying and the realities faced by ordinary citizens. The resolution of the House of Representatives to slash legislators’ salaries by half, is a welcome development. However, Nigerians will be following closely to see that it is implemented.