Salaries Of Judges In Nigeria (2023)
The Chief Judge is the highest judicial officer in the state, and acts as a chief administrative officer as well as spokesperson for the judicial branch. The Chief Judge presides over oral arguments before the court.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria or CJN is the head of the judicial arm of the government of Nigeria, and presides over the country’s Supreme Court and the National Judicial Council. The current Chief Justice is Olukayode Ariwoola who was appointed on 27 June 2022.
How much are the salaries of Judges in Nigeria? Which judge has the highest salary? What is the monthly salary of a judge of the Supreme Court? What is the Chief Justice’s salary? Do judges make a lot of money? Can a person become a judge without being a lawyer? Are judges entitled to pensions? How can I be a judge? Who can remove the judge of the Supreme Court? Do judges pay taxes?
Salary Structure Of Judges In Nigeria
The last time the salaries of judges in Nigeria were reviewed was by the ’’Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008’’ which came into force on February 1, 2007. Still, has been reviewed recently.
The Chief Justice, as presiding officer of the Court, is responsible by statute for its administration, in addition to hearing cases and writing opinions. The Federal High Court is headed by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. These Judges are appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and must have been qualified as legal practitioners for at least 10 years. Appointments are on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council.
Thus, by virtue of that same Act, the Chief Justice of Nigeria’s annual basic salary is N3,353,972.50 (or N279,497.71 monthly), while other Justices of the Supreme Court and the President of the Court of Appeal receive N2,477,110.00 as basic annual salary or N206,425.83 monthly.
Justices of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court and President of the Industrial High Court, Grand Khadi of State and FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President FCT and State Customary Court of Appeal earn an annual basic salary of N1, 995,430.18 each.
In addition, Judges of the Federal, State and FCT High Courts, National Industrial Court, Khadi Sharia Court of Appeal in FCT and State; and FCT and State Customary Courts also earn an annual basic salary of N1,804,740 each.
Allowances and fringe benefits payable to the judicial officers at the Federal and states include accommodation, Utilities, domestic staff, entertainment, medical, security, furniture, personal assistance, motor vehicle loan, severance gratuity and retirement benefit.
Others include leave allowance, motor maintenance and fuel, hardship, newspaper, estacode duty tour, outfit and special assistant allowances.
Accommodation, medical, security and special assistance allowances and benefits are not paid but provided by NJC.
The furniture allowance is paid every four years, while the leave allowance is earned once a year. The car loan facility is optional.
The CJN earns $2000 estacode when he travels, while other Supreme Court Justices and the President of the Court of Appeal earn $1300 of estacode each. The others earn between $600 and $1100 estacode each.
When these basic salaries, allowances and fringe benefits are posted, the CJN and other Justices of the Supreme Court receive a monthly salary of N480, 766.89 and N751, 000 in their bank accounts respectively.
Wrapping Up
To round off, the salaries of judges in Nigeria and their purchasing power compared to that of their counterparts abroad and in some African countries are wide apart. The total number of Judges at the Federal and State Judiciary Services in Nigeria currently is 1129 made up of 283 and 846 Federal and State Judicial Officers (Judges) respectively.
