From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
National Industrial Court (NIC) in Abuja has fixed July 15 for judgment in the suit seeking upward review of salaries of judges.
This came as the Judicial Council (NJC), yesterday, backed the suit filed by a constitutional lawyer and author, Chief Sabastine Hon (SAN.)
At the resumed hearing, NJC through its counsel, Mr Kunle Adegoke prayed the Industrial Court, Abuja, to grant all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.
The Council informed Justice Osatohanmwen Obaseki-Osaghae that the Nigerian government last reviewed judges salaries in 2008, a period of 14 years adding that the ugly trend had inflicted untold economic hardships on judicial officers in the country.
NJC is the 4th Defendant in the suit, filed by the claimant, Chief Sebastine Hon.
Other defendants in the suit are the National Assembly (1st Defendant), Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (2nd Defendant), and Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (3rd Defendant).
NJC’s counsel in the matter, while adopting his written address and other processes urged the court to uphold the suit.
Adegoke expressed reservation that salaries of judicial officers have been stagnant for over 14 years without review.
Contrary to the objections of the NASS and AGF that the claimant lacks the locus standii to institute the suit, the NJC counsel reminded the court that the issue of locus standii has been liberalized all over the world, especially when an issue borders on public interest.
Adegoke insisted that NASS and AGF have failed in their duty to better the remuneration of judicial office holders.
He submitted that the Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders Act 2008 is inconsistent with section 84(3) of the constitution, and therefore called for modification of the Act to bring it to conformity with the provision of the constitution.
By the suit, Hon prayed the court to compel the defendants to increase the salaries and allowances of judges in the country.
He posited among other depositions that the current economic reality in the country requires that the salaries and allowances of the nation’s judges be urgently improved upon.