Salary Structure of Nigerian Chief Justices, Judges & Other Judicial Officers
This post contains how much a judge in Nigeria earns, the salary structure of Nigerian Chief Justices and other judicial officers this 2024.
Judges in Nigeria image credit: Nigerian Infopedia
The legal sector in Nigeria is one of the most lucrative sectors where one can earn high salaries especially when you are a magistrate judge in the country. Although, lawyers earn less, it depends on the kind of firm and establishment in which you are working currently. We have in our previous post shown the highest paying law firms in Nigeria to work for if you have the credentials and backing to do so. We have also provided the top 10 richest lawyers in the country for those who wish to know them.
To become a judge in Nigeria isn’t an easy task, as it takes not just intelligence but experience and exposure to even be considered for this role anywhere in the world. While we have provided the requirements for such, this article borders more on the salary of Nigerian judges and other judicial officers. This was seen in a report that the third arm of government which is the judiciary, pays its staff well.
HOW MUCH THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA & JUDGES EARNS YEARLY
A recent report has revealed the salaries and allowances earned by the chief justice of Nigeria and other judicial officers. The report also said that the chief justice of Nigeria and the judicial officers have gulped a whooping ₦33.47 billion as salaries and allowances in one year.
A recent report has shown that Nigerian judges, chief justice and other judicial officers gulp ₦33.47 billion as annual remuneration.
The report released by the Economic Confidential, a financial magazine shows that CJN, federal and state judicial officers have in the past one year received a total of ₦33.47 billion as salaries and allowances.
The report also included the regular and non-regular allowances – vehicle maintenance and fuel, personal assistants, domestic staff, entertainment, utilities allowances, hardship allowance, outfit and newspapers allowances – for 934 judicial officers in Nigeria.
SALARY OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA (CJN)
The Chief Justice of Nigeria’s supreme court receives an annual salary of ₦3.36 million. He or she is to be provided with vehicle maintenance and fueling, domestic staff, entertainment, utilities and newspapers just like the president of the country.
The chief justice of Nigeria is also entitled to receive 25 % of his annual basic salary, this percentage is reserved for personal assistant and outfit each at ₦840,993.13.
The CJN also receives 50% of his annual basic salary which ₦1,681,986.25 as hardship allowance, likewise allowances for furniture, annual leave, severance gratuity and vehicle loan at 10%, 300% and 400% of his annual leave respectively.
Furthermore, his duty tour allowance is fixed at ₦50,000 and $2000 per night for local and foreign travels.
SALARY STRUCTURE OF OTHER JUDICIAL OFFICERS
However, other officials like justices of the Supreme Court and the president of the Court of Appeal are all placed on ₦2.47 million annual salary while the a justice of the appellate court, chief judge of the Federal High Court, chief judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Judge of the FHC, the president of the National Industrial Court, grand Khadi of the sharia courts and it appeal court and their colleagues in the customary courts are on an annual salary of ₦1.99 million.
Then for the judges of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, FCT High Court, State High Courts, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Khadi state Sharia Court of Appeal and State Customary Court of Appeal all earn N1.80 million annually.
For the judges, aside the Chief Justice of Nigeria, they receive 75% of their annual salaries as vehicle maintenance and fueling, 25% for personal assistant, 50% as hardship allowance, 75% for domestic staff and 45% for entertainment.
Other allowances received are 30% of their annual salaries as for utilities, 25% for outfit and 15% for newspapers.
The judges also get 200% for accommodation once a year, 300% of annual salary for furniture, 10% for annual leave, 300% as severance gratuity and 400% for vehicle loan which is however optional for non-regular allowances.
All the justices of the Supreme Court and the president of the Court of Appeal are entitled to ₦35,000.00 and $1300 per night as duty tour allowance within and outside the country respectively.
Also, justices of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the FCT, Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Grand Khadi of the FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of States, Grand Khadi state Sharia Court of Appeal and President state Customary Court of Appeal all have ₦30,000 as duty tour allowances each within the country and $1,100 as estacode.
Other judges outside the above are entitled to ₦25,000.00 as duty tour allowances per night within the country and $800 for estacode when they travel out of the country per night.
