The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has said Nigerians would suffer the consequences if judges are deprived of good salaries, allowances and official benefits
Mr Ariwoola stated this on Monday at a public hearing on the plan to increase the salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country.
The hearing was organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters.
Mr Ariwoola was represented at the hearing by the Chief Judge of Borno, Kashim Zannah.
In his address, the CJN specifically said the demand for a review of judicial officer’s salaries was in the interest of Nigerians.
“When judges are well compensated, yes, they do their best. But actually, as clearly demonstrated, the real interest that is being looked at is the interest of these citizens because they will be the ones who suffer the consequences of a deprived judiciary,” he said.
Mr Ariwoola likened the situation of judges in the country to a patient in a critical condition and need of urgent medical attention.
“Distinguished senators, in a nutshell, what we are saying is this. The situation of judges across Nigeria is like one in a critical condition in the ICU. The beam, the schedule to the beam would stabilise the patient. The one captain in the appropriation door would have him moved from the ICU to the general ward.
“When a patient is in that condition, you don’t start physiotherapy at the ICU. You make sure he is stabilised, move to the general ward, gain some strength, and then you now look at physiotherapy and all other therapists. And that is the nutshell of our presentation that distinguishes senators as we have already exhibited.
“Do move quickly, move the patient out of the ICU to the general ward and then we will come. But for now, let us stabilise the patient, move him out of ICU and then we can talk about the rest later,” the CJN described.
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