The National Judicial Council (NJC) has demanded the immediate payment of retired judicial officers’ retirement benefits including severance pay, pensions and gratuity by state governments across the country.
NJC, which condemned in strongest terms the non-payment of retirement benefits and gratuities of state judges and other judicial officials, called on the offending states to ensure that all entitlements of retired judges are fully settled forthwith and therefore directed state Chief judges to file reports on compliance to reach the Council not later than April 1, 2023.
NJC in a statement issued by its Director of Information, Soji Oye, Esq., described as worrisome, the situation whereby many judicial officers of the states are being owed their retirement benefits, an act which violates the Rule of Law and Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The statement read, “NJC meets on, and very strongly condemns non-payment of retirement benefits/ gratuities of State Judges
“The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON at its 100th Meeting held on 19 January 2023, deliberated on the worrisome situation whereby many Judicial Officers of the States are being owed their retirement benefits, including severance pay/gratuity and pensions.
“After due consideration, the Council condemns in very strong terms this act, which is undermining the Rule of Law and Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
“It, therefore, calls on the offending States to ensure that all entitlements of retired Judges are fully settled forthwith.
“The Council further directed State Chief Judges to file reports on compliance, to reach the Council not later than 1 April 2023.”
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