The Attorneys-General of South West States have called for the
upward review of salaries of judges.
They made this call during a virtual interracive session with
Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorneys-General of
states and Chief Judges.
In a statement on behalf of the Attorneys-General of South West
States and made available to Nairalaw (TNL), Olawale
Fapohunda, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice of Ekiti State, said they are not against the independence
of the Judiciary.
“We have not discussed in depth the matter of Executive Order 10
issued by Mr. President particularly as it concerns judicial
autonomy. None of our states are against judicial autonomy. Indeed
in our view the ideal of judicial independence rests squarely on
the ability of the judiciary to fend for itself. There is however a
need to achieve clarity on the meaning of judicial autonomy.”
Fapohunda lamented that the salaries of judges is small and that
though salaries and allowances of political officeholders have been
reviewed four times, that of the Judiciary was reviewed just
twice.
“There appears to be a misconception that judiciary autonomy is
about physical infrastructure -state of the art courtrooms,
comfortable cars and related matters. These are important however
any discussion of judicial autonomy must necessarily include a
reference to judicial salaries. This is as important as the
infrastructure. A situation where a judge works in a state of the
art courtroom, drives a comfortable official car, lives in a
comfortable official house but has to survive on a poor salary
makes nonsense of the concept of judicial autonomy. Indeed between
May 1999 and March 2011, the Federal Government of Nigeria reviewed
the salaries and allowances of Public Servants and Political office
holders on four occasions specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and
2011. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed
twice during the same period. As a result judicial officers have
been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years.”
They, therefore, called for the upward review of the salary of
judges: “While the South West Attorneys-General recognize the
enormity of the economic challenges facing the nation, there is now
a compelling need to upwardly review judicial salaries. It is our
view that judicial salaries must be set at a comparatively high
public service level in order to remove both the temptation to
corruption and public contemplation of the possibility of such
temptation.”
They also Urges HAGF, Malami, SAN “to revisit the report of the
Dayo Apata Committee on Judicial Salaries and Allowances 2018 with
a view to ensuring implementation.”
The Attorneys-General of South West States have called for the
upward review of salaries of judges.
They made this call during a virtual interracive session with
Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, Attorneys-General of
states and Chief Judges.
In a statement on behalf of the Attorneys-General of South West
States and made available to Nairalaw (TNL), Olawale
Fapohunda, the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice of Ekiti State, said they are not against the independence
of the Judiciary.
“We have not discussed in depth the matter of Executive Order 10
issued by Mr. President particularly as it concerns judicial
autonomy. None of our states are against judicial autonomy. Indeed
in our view the ideal of judicial independence rests squarely on
the ability of the judiciary to fend for itself. There is however a
need to achieve clarity on the meaning of judicial autonomy.”
Fapohunda lamented that the salaries of judges is small and that
though salaries and allowances of political officeholders have been
reviewed four times, that of the Judiciary was reviewed just
twice.
“There appears to be a misconception that judiciary autonomy is
about physical infrastructure -state of the art courtrooms,
comfortable cars and related matters. These are important however
any discussion of judicial autonomy must necessarily include a
reference to judicial salaries. This is as important as the
infrastructure. A situation where a judge works in a state of the
art courtroom, drives a comfortable official car, lives in a
comfortable official house but has to survive on a poor salary
makes nonsense of the concept of judicial autonomy. Indeed between
May 1999 and March 2011, the Federal Government of Nigeria reviewed
the salaries and allowances of Public Servants and Political office
holders on four occasions specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and
2011. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed
twice during the same period. As a result judicial officers have
been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years.”
They, therefore, called for the upward review of the salary of
judges: “While the South West Attorneys-General recognize the
enormity of the economic challenges facing the nation, there is now
a compelling need to upwardly review judicial salaries. It is our
view that judicial salaries must be set at a comparatively high
public service level in order to remove both the temptation to
corruption and public contemplation of the possibility of such
temptation.”
They also Urges HAGF, Malami, SAN “to revisit the report of the
Dayo Apata Committee on Judicial Salaries and Allowances 2018 with
a view to ensuring implementation.”