From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The House of Representatives yesterday passed the bill for upward review of salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for Judicial Office holders across the country through third reading.

The bill seeks to amend Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act, No. 6, 2002 (as amended) by deleting Section 2(b), Part II of the Schedule to the Act and any other provisions relating to Judicial Office Holders.

The bill is expected to be transmitted to the President for assent. The bill, when signed into law by President Bola Tinubu is to take effect from 1st January 2024.

The proposed legislation prescribes a total of N5.3 monthly earning, comprising N1.1 million basic salary and allowances for the Chief Justice of Nigeria( CJN).

The allowances annually are: personal assistant, N3.36million; hardship, N6.731 million; entertainment, N6. 058 million; utilities, N4. 038 million; outfit, N3.365 million; journal subscription, N2. 019 million; medical, N5.385 million; long service allowance, N1.346 million; restricted or forced lifestyle, N6.731 million; dual responsibility, N2.692 million; and legal researchers, N9.432million.

The CJN also gets N53 million motor vehicle loan. The loan, which is optional is expected to be repaid before the expiration of his/her tenure. There is also a leave allowance of N6.731 million per annum, and an estacode of $2000 per night during foreign trips.

Similarly, justices of the Supreme Court are to earn N61.4 million annually. The breakdown  include: motor vehicle allowance, N7.4 million; personal assistant, N2.4 million; hardship, N4.9 million; domestic staff, N7.4 million; entertainment, N4.4 million; utilities, N2.9 million; outfit, N2.4 million; journal subscription, N1.4 million; medical, N3.9 million; long service allowance, N991,339; restricted or forced lifestyle, N4.9; and legal researchers, N6.9 million.

Also, each justice at the apex court is entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan, and a severance package of N29.7 million.

On the other hand, the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn N62.4 million allowance with the following breakdown: N9.9 million annually, and N52.5 million regular allowances. The President of the Court of Appeal is also entitled to N39.7 million motor vehicle loan, and a severance package of N29.7 million.

Other Justices of the Court of Appeal are to get a total of N52.6 million as total allowances. The breakdown shows that N7.9 million is the annual basic salary, and N44.1 million remains the regular allowances. For the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Kadi of the FCT Shariah Court of Appeal, President of the FCT Customary Court, Chief Judge of State High Court, Grand Kadi of the State Shariah Court of Appeal and President of the State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn the same salary and allowances.

For this category, the annual basic salary is N7.9 million and N42.3 million as annual regular allowances. Also, the severance, gratuity, and motor vehicle loan are N23.9 million and N31.9 million, respectively.