The National Assembly, on Monday , asked the National Industrial Court, NIC, in Abuja Nigeria, to allow an out of court settlement in a suit instituted against it and three others, challenging poor salaries of Judicial Officers in the country.
The National Assembly through its counsel, Mr. Charles Yoila, told Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osagie, that the institution is interested in an out of court settlement policy because of the nature of the matter.
The counsel pleaded with the court to grant an adjournment so as to enable parties in the matter sit on a round table for discussion for an amicable resolution.
He told the Judge that, the National Assembly would have opted for an early resolution of the matter but for the strike embarked upon by workers of the organization, adding that at the moment, the main gate of the Assembly is under lock and key.
At Monday’s proceeding, Mr. Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, who led 33 other Senior Advocates, had sought to argue the originating summons in the suit that was filed by another senior lawyer, Mr. Sebastian Hon, SAN, in line with the practice direction of the court.
However, hearing could not proceed because of the absence of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC, Attorney-General of the Federation AGF and the National Judicial Council NJC, who were not represented by legal practitioners.
Awomolo, however, conceded to the request for out of court settlement sought by the National Assembly.
In a short ruling, Justice Obaseki-Osagie adjourned the matter to June 22 for report of settlement by the parties in the matter.
The Plaintiff Chief Sebastine Hon San, who instituted the case is praying the court to compel the defendants (AGF, NJC NASS) to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in Nigeria.
In a supporting affidavit to the originating summons, Hon stated that as a legal practitioner, “who has practised in all the levels of courts in Nigeria, I know that poor pay for judicial officers is seriously affecting the quality of judgments and rulings those officers are delivering and the discharge of other functions associated with their offices.”
He argued that the current economic reality in the country requires that the salaries and allowances of the nation’s judges be urgently improved upon.
The plaintiff noted that the highest-paid judicial officer in Nigeria – the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) – currently earns about N3.4 million per annum, far below what is earned by such an officer in other countries.
Hon, who quoted what all judicial officers currently earn as provided under Part IIB of the Schedule to the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Amendment Act 2008, said the paltry sums have discouraged him from aspiring to become a judge.
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