In a landmark judgement on Friday, the National Industrial Court (NIC), sitting in Abuja, has ordered an increment in the salaries of judicial officers in the country.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Osatohanmwen Obasaki-Osagie noted that in the face of the increased work activities for judicial workers their salaries have been the same for over 14 years.

As reliably gathered by theliberationnews, the court emphasized that the judicial workers have continued to suffer in penury by way of their relatively meager salary and allowances which was described as “very embarrassing.”

In the words of Justice Obaseki-Osagie, “There is no doubt that from evidence adduced before this court that salaries payable to judges as well as their conditions of service, has been greatly altered to their disadvantage.

“Judicial officers are daily impoverished by the devaluation of the Naira. They have suffered financial hardship and embarrassment owing to their poor pay. It is a shame to the country.

“Inspite of this, our judges have continued to carry out their statutory duties. Justices are themselves victims of a great injustice. What an irony”.

Speaking further, the court held that the judges are entitled to periodic remuneration increment noting that the NIC, being the specialized court saddled with the responsibility of determining labour and employment related matters has the constituted power to compel federal government, via relevant agencies, to review the remuneration of judicial workers.

She held that judges in the country have the right to have their salaries reviewed upwards, periodically, adding that the NIC, being the court that determines labour and employment related matters, it has the constitutional power to compel FG, through its agencies, to upwardly review the remuneration of judicial officers.

Consequently, the court, made an order, increasing the salary of the Chief Justice of Nigeria to N10million, while that of justices of the Supreme Court and President of the Court of Apeal was increased to N9m.
Likewise, the court increased salaries of Court of Appeal Justices, Chief Judges, President of the Industrial Court, Grand Khadis and President of Customary Courts to N8m, even as it ordered FG to forthwith, pay N7m to other judges, monthly.

The court directed that the order should be served on the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN.

It equally awarded N1.5m cost against RMAFC, the AGF and the National Assembly, who were all cited as Defendants in the matter.