The President of the Nigerian Bar Association has called for the immediate appointment of additional Justices to reach the full complement of 21 Justices on the Supreme Court, as prescribed by Section 230(1)(B) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
As reported by The Press, the recent retirement of Justice Amina Augie has decreased the number of apex court justices to 11.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the NBA National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, the association’s president, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, highlighted that Justice Augie’s retirement has significantly increased the workload for the existing justices.
Maikyau also advocated for a constitutional amendment to reduce the number of cases heard by the apex court.
The statement read, in part, “The NBA President expressed concerns that the departure of Hon. Justice Augie from the Supreme Court Bench has further diminished the number of Justices, thereby increasing the workload for the already overburdened and regrettably poorly compensated justices.
“The NBA President noted that it is now essential to amend the Nigerian Constitution to raise the threshold for the appointment of Supreme Court Justices and limit the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to specific constitutional matters.”
The NBA president also revealed that the association had been engaging with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the National Judicial Council regarding the remuneration of judicial officers.
“The NBA President stated that President Bola Tinubu has instructed a presidential working group to harmonise the recommendations from RMAFC, NBA, and NJC, aiming to incorporate the outcomes into the 2024 budget appropriation,” the statement added.
Additionally, the NBA proposed Lifestyle Allowance, Dual Responsibility Allowance, Frequent Transfer Allowance, and Long Service Allowance to acknowledge the unique demands of judicial office holders.
Maikyau underlined the NBA’s recommendation to separate judicial remuneration from that of the civil service, reinforcing the independence of the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Maikyau extended condolences to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, following a fire incident at the Supreme Court complex on Monday.
“The incident, which reportedly affected the chambers of some Justices, raises concerns about the integrity and safety of court infrastructure in Nigeria. The NBA has, therefore, called for an investigation into the incident to prevent future recurrences,” the statement concluded.