Nigeria’s Chief Justice Demands Higher Salaries For Judges To Ensure Judicial Efficiency

The chief justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, on Monday stressed the need for an increase in the salaries, allowances and official benefits of the judges, warning that Nigerians would "suffer the consequences of a deprived judiciary."

During a public hearing organized by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters on the plan to increase the salaries and allowances, Ariwoola said the demand will serve the citizens of Nigeria.

Ariwoola, who was represented by Chief Judge of Borno Kashim Zannah, explained that when the judges are well compensated, they perform their best.

"As clearly demonstrated, the real interest that is being looked at is the interest of these citizens because they will be the ones who suffer the consequences of a deprived judiciary," he said, Premium Times reported.

He went on to compare Nigerian judges' condition to a patient in a critical condition in the ICU. The judge noted that "the beam, the schedule to the beam would stabilize the patient," adding that "one captain in the appropriation door would have him moved from the ICU to the general ward."

Ariwoola further said that when a patient was admitted to the ICU, doctors don't start physiotherapy at the ICU, but, instead, make sure that the patient was stabilized before moving to the general ward after gaining some strength.

"You now look at physiotherapy and all other therapists," Ariwoola said. "Do move quickly, move the patient out of the ICU to the general ward and then we will come. But for now, let us stabilize the patient, move him out of ICU and then we can talk about the rest later."

After explaining his point of view, the judge thanked the senate committee for organizing the hearing and making an effort to remove all the hurdles in the work of Nigerian citizens for justice.

"And there are gaps, more gaps too, which we refrain from raising now in order to allow for the expeditious grant of the above prayer. Because judges across the length and breadth of Nigeria are expectantly enduring the pain on a daily basis and it is not wise to deal," he said.

He recalled that the salaries were last reviewed in the year 2007 and the judges have been earning the same salaries for the last 17 years. The Senate earlier this month passed the second reading of a bill that sought an increase in salaries, allowances and official benefits for judicial officers.