…Says Salaries Have Been Stagnant for Over 10 Years

…Asks the Bar to Shun Frivolous Cases

…Govt is Working to Review Welfare of Judges…Malami

President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has appealed to the Federal Government for an upward review of salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country, decrying the attendant poor remuneration and the general welfare condition of judges.

This is coming just as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami has assured that welfare of judges is uppermost in the agenda of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Justice Dongban-Mensem, who made the appeal on Monday in Abuja at the maiden edition of Court of Appeal Legal Year and Justices Retreat, revealed that salaries of judicial officers had been stagnant for the past 10 years.

According to her, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who is the Head of the Judiciary in Nigeria, “as at today takes home N279, 497 as monthly salary, while his brother justices on the Supreme Court bench go home with N206,425”.

Justice Dongban-Mensem said that as President of Court of Appeal, she receives N206,425, while other justices on the bench of the Court of Appeal get N166,285 every month.

She said it was disheartening that the salary structure for judicial officers and staff in Nigeria had consistently ranked poorly when compared to that of their counterpart in other African and Commonwealth countries.

Justice Dongban-Mensem recalled that the last time salaries of judicial officers were reviewed in Nigeria was in 2008, when the upward review was made to take effect on February 1, 2007.

She, therefore, called on the federal and states governments to live up to their obligations under the implementation of financial autonomy of state legislature and the state judiciary order, known as Executive Order 10.

“I implore the government of the federation and states to urgently review the salaries and allowances of judicial officers and staff.

”The salaries of justices are static with no graduation as in the civil and public service. We have been on one salary grade for over 10 years now.

“May I also call on government to increase financial allocations that will enable us to introduce technical innovations that would improve adjudication”, she said.

Some judges who spoke to the Nigerian Democratic Report (NDR) on the matter offered that the PCA spoke about salary and not actual take home. They however concur with Justice Dongban-Mensem that the salaries and allowances are scandalously low, making a mockery of the country’s anti-corruption campaign.

“This is the basic salary. With all allowances it totals 600k, 650k and 750k for High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges respectively.

“Still, it is scandalously poor, in a country that prides itself in fighting corruption and where politicians earn obscene remunerations.

“Only last night this very issue came up in a discussion with some close friends and when I told them what I earn as a judge, they were shocked beyond words. Nigeria is not serious at all,” lamented one judge.

Another who shared his views with NDR also explained,
“That’s the basic salary minus allowances. The system over the years created various allowances to further augment. The take home is far more than that.”

The Appeal Court president disclosed that for the 2020/2021 legal year, a total of 5,092 appeals and 9,249 motions were filed in the 20 divisions of the court. Out of the cases, she said, 3,111 appeals were disposed along with 7,492 motions.

She added that out of these, 2, 169 appeals were dismissed while 942 appeals were upheld as at August 31.

The PCA decried what she described as the spate of multiple suits and appeals the court was currently handling saying it was an alarming trend that must be addressed by all stakeholders in the legal profession.

“While the Chief Justice of Nigeria has demonstrated resolute leadership in addressing the issue of conflicting rulings by the bench, I call on the bar to also do likewise to clear the augean stables of such unethical conduct, which unduly swell up the appellate docket.”

While saying that the court welcomed constructive observations that would enable the judges better perform their duties, she urged the bar to desist from maligning the character of justices just because the decisions of a panel did not favour their client.

“I also call upon the bar to be the guardians of the law and legality, shunning sharp practices and frivolous appeals, which are otiose and speculative.

“Legal practitioners must be mindful of the Rules of Professional conduct and shun all unethical, corrupt and insidious practices that can bring disrepute to the noble profession.

“I assure you that any indiscipline by lawyers will not be tolerated and the court will not hesitate to refer any unscrupulous Legal practitioner to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.”

Also speaking at the event, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, (SAN), appealed to the appellate court justices to maintain the sanctity and credibility of the court.

This, he said was to ensure that the sacred integrity reposed in the appellate court remained unshaken at all times in order to foster and promote public confidence in all their judgments.

Malami also gave the assurance that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was working to review the welfare of judicial officers generally to ensure greater efficiency.

“I am happy to inform you that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari is once more revistiing the issue of the welfare of the judicial system generally.

”Very soon the committee report which is being accorded attention by the President will certainly come to pass and the welfare of the judiciary will in effect be enhanced accordingly for greater efficiency of the system,” Malami said.

Dignitaries present at the event included the FCT Minister, Mr Mohammed Bello, Minister Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN), retired and serving judges of courts.