Poor pay exposing judges to temptation, says senator

Opeyemi Bamidele, chairman of the senate committee on judiciary, says the poor remuneration of judges is exposing them to temptation.

Speaking on Wednesday before the commencement of a screening exercise of eight judges appointed to the supreme court by President Muhammadu Buhari, Bamidele said the welfare of judges needs “a major intervention”.

The president had asked the upper legislative chamber to confirm Mohammed Lawal Garba, Helen M. Ogunwumiju, Addu Aboki, I.M.M. Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Samuel C. Oseji, Tijjani Abubakar and Emmanuel A. Agim as justices of the supreme court.

Bamidele said the salary structure of judges was last reviewed in 2018.

According to him, the take-home pay of the justices of supreme court per annum is N2.477 million, while those of the court of appeal and high court get N1.995 million and N1.804 million.

“The present situation in the country as regards welfare of judges and justices calls for a major intervention,” he said.

“Salaries and allowances of judicial officers, judges and justices in Nigeria, were last reviewed in 2008 through an act of parliament.

“As of that time, the exchange rate of naira to a US dollar was N117 as against N467 it is now, clearly showing that judges and justices salaries have been static over the years and even depreciating in value.”