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Tinubu Okays 300% Pay Rise For Judicial Officers

Published

1 year ago

August 13, 2024

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has signed the Judicial Office Holders Salaries and Allowances Bill into law.

The Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

The National Assembly had in June approved a bill that grants a 300 per cent salary increase for judicial officers at the federal and state levels.

This followed the consideration and adoption of an executive bill transmitted by the President which sought to prescribe improved salaries and allowances as well as other fringe benefits for judicial officers and workers.

The executive bill forwarded by the President was titled “A Bill for an Act to Prescribe the Salaries, Allowances and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and for Related Matters”.

According to Lado, “This extraordinary move underscores Mr President’s absolute prioritization of the welfare of Nigerian workers above all else just like he did when he recently put on hold an ongoing Federal Executive Council meeting to assent to the new National Minimum Wage Bill of N70,000.”

Lado said the new Act “prescribes salaries, allowances, etc., for Judicial Officers to reflect the changing realities and consequentially amend the provisions of the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.), Act, No.6, 2002 (as amended) to delete the provisions relating to Judicial Office Holders.”

According to him, among the salient features of the Act include, “The prescription of salaries, allowances, and other benefits for Judicial Officers.

“The amendment of Certain Political, Public, and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Act, No.6, 2002 (as amended) which provides for the deletion of provisions relating to Judicial Office Holders from the aforementioned Act.”

He described the signing of the bill by the President as a landmark achievement and a manifestation of his unwavering commitment to the welfare of Nigeria’s workforce.

Lado said, “In a demonstration of his visionary leadership and deep compassion for the Nigerian people, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCON has once again affirmed his unwavering commitment to the welfare of the nation’s workforce by assenting to the revised Salaries and Allowances for Judicial Office Holders.

“This landmark decision reflects Mr President’s profound dedication to ensuring that every salary earner in Nigeria, especially those serving in vital and strategic roles, receives the recognition and compensation they deserve.

“By prioritizing the financial well-being of our judicial officers, Mr President is not only reinforcing the integrity of our justice system but also setting a new standard for leadership that truly values the hard work and sacrifices of all Nigerian workers.”

He added, “Under President Tinubu’s administration, the welfare of our workers has become a central pillar of national progress.

“His visionary policies continue to uplift the lives of millions, ensuring that the dignity of labour is upheld and that those who serve our nation are justly rewarded.

“This assent is a clear testament to Mr. President’s tireless efforts to build a more prosperous and equitable Nigeria, where every worker is empowered to contribute to the nation’s greatness.

“As we look to the future with hope and determination, Mr President remains steadfast in his mission to champion initiatives that deliver fair compensation, improved working conditions, and a brighter future for all Nigerians.”

Lado commended the Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abass Tajudeen, for their patriotic commitment to progressively improving the welfare of Nigerians.

He also lauded the members of the 10th National Assembly for prioritizing the welfare of Nigerians by passing and transmitting the executive Bill which has now been promptly assented to by the President.

He urged Judicial Office Holders in the country to redouble their efforts in ensuring that justice is served and speedily so in the light of the action of the President aimed at enhancing their overall welfare and well-being.

“The judiciary remains the hope of the common man and it is hoped that Nigerians seeking justice get it irrespective of their status in life,” he said.

The PUNCH reports that following the passage of the bill, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had an annual salary of N64m.

The President of the Court of Appeal will be entitled to N62.4m, while Justices of the Supreme Court will earn the sum of N61.4m each.

All heads of the various courts, such as the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory High Court the President of the National Industrial Court, among others, would earn the same basic salary of N7.9m annually.

News

Go And Sin No More, CAC Tells Pastor Fatoyinbo After Gaffe

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Christ Apostolic Church has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo, after his recent remarks about the CAC’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, stirred outrage.

Speaking on behalf of the church, the Director of Publicity for CAC, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, said the apology was received in good faith, noting that it reflected remorse and a willingness to make amends.

Fatoyinbo, while delivering a sermon, had said Apostle Babalola was anointed but had no money.

He also said Babalola died poor and questioned the whereabouts of his children.

“I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed. Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So, all the grace just went like that,” Fatoyinbo said.

But reacting, the CAC, in a statement on Thursday, signed by Alawode, accused Fatoyinbo of promoting a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.

“Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.

“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’ — a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.

“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses — Luke 12:15,” the church said.

Also reacting, the first daughter of Apostle Babalola, Deaconess Eunice Ogini, said her father lived a life of service to God and humanity, and that his children continued in his footsteps.

She rejected the claim that he died poor or left no tangible legacy, stressing that both she and her sister were blessed and lived comfortable lives as a result of his values and generosity.

Following the backlash, Pastor Fatoyinbo in a statement on Thursday, apologised to CAC and the children of Apostle Babalola.

He insisted that he did not speak ill of Babalola’s children and maintained that his church was “a place of honour.”

“Let me state however, that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of faith in bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online, and this can be verified.

“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of the same.

“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates,” Fatoyinbo said.

Reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, Alawode commended Fatoyinbo for taking steps to address the matter, saying his apology showed humility and a willingness to make amends.

“He (Fatoyinbo) realised that the statement he made evoked some feelings in some people, and he took steps to correct himself. That is what is needed; it means he has shown remorse.

“Maybe he made the statement in error and once he has (Fatoyinbo) realised that and corrected himself, that is alright,” Alawode said.

He noted that CAC’s concern was not to accuse Fatoyinbo of malicious intent, but to clarify public misconceptions his remarks might have created.

“We too did not say he spoke of them (Apostle Babalola and his children) in bad light, but we just wanted to correct the impression given that maybe Baba did not even have any children at all. The children are alive and all of them are doing well in their various fields of endeavour. They have already retired from government service, and they are church leaders in their own right,” he added.

News

Cleric Warns African Leaders Against Oppressing Christians

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Apostolic Church has advised African leaders to shun “oppressive policies” against Christians, asking them to prioritise the welfare of the people in their countries.

It also appealed to churches embroiled in legal disputes between leaders and members to withdraw such cases from the courts and resolve their differences amicably.

The National President of TAC Nigeria, Pastor Lawrence Oladele, said this during the church’s African Leaders’ Conference held at the church’s National Temple in Ketu, Lagos, on Friday.

Oladele also admonished politicians to rule with the fear of God for the African continent to prosper in human and material resources.

“They should stop oppressive policies against Christians; persecutions, and even killings of Christians directly and indirectly by known and unknown bandits without justice for the victims,” Oladele said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the conference and President of TAC Ghana, Pastor Aaron Ami-Narh, called the church leaders to embrace youths and empower them with the Apostolic doctrines for a better African society.

“You’re responsible for your life. The church must be a good example for African nations so as to have a greater future. We must also pray for the leaders,” Ami-Narh said.

News

FG To Disburse Interest-free Loans To Farmers, Small Businesses – GEEP

Published

3 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government will soon commence disbursement of interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and businesses across the country before the end of 2025, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Hamza Ibrahim Baba, has said.

Baba made this known on Friday in Kaduna during an engagement with representatives of the traders’ associations and other stakeholders in the state’s informal business sector.

He said the loans, up to N100,000 per beneficiary, were part of the FarmerMoni scheme under GEEP, which aims to support small-scale farmers involved in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production.

“This pilot phase will support farmers nationwide, small-scale business owners including Kaduna State.

“Beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month moratorium to enable them to produce before beginning repayment.

“The funds will help them acquire inputs such as fertilisers, livestock, veterinary drugs, and other critical tools,” Baba said.

Baba said that the programme, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was one of the flagship initiatives under the National Social Investment Programme.

According to him, GEEP provides collateral-free, interest-free loans to micro-enterprises, petty traders, artisans, youth entrepreneurs, and farmers to help scale up their businesses and ensure financial inclusion.

He explained that GEEP operates three schemes: TraderMoni, targeting youths aged 18 to 45 involved in petty trades; MarketMoni, focused on women in small-scale trading; and FarmerMoni, for rural farmers.

Baba added, “These are not grants. They are loans but interest-free.

“The goal is to help Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid improve their businesses, become part of the formal financial system, and eventually create jobs.”

The co-ordinator said the loans ranged from N5,000 to N100,000, depending on the scheme, and were structured to promote sustainability through monitoring and evaluation.

He urged traders’ associations and cooperatives to work closely with GEEP Desk Officers and field enumerators across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to ensure that only deserving beneficiaries were selected.

“The success of this programme depends on transparency and proper targeting.
$We want to reach those who truly need support, not those looking to take advantage of the system,” he added.

Baba assured that the Tinubu administration was committed to expanding the reach of all GEEP schemes, stressing that the pilot farmer intervention would lay the foundation for broader rollout in 2026.

He acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations and Ministers to GEEP’s development since its inception in 2016 and extolled ongoing reforms aimed at improving delivery and accountability.

He said, “GEEP also works in synergy with other NSIP components, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

“These are all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across Nigeria.”

In an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Musa, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the gesture, stating that the support had significantly impacted her life and helped expand her business.

Another respondent, Mallam Umar Usman, said he had not benefited from the programme yet but expressed hope of being included in the upcoming GEEP 3.0 phase, whose disbursement was expected to commence soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the market leaders and stakeholders also commended the Federal Government for supporting business owners with interest-free loans.

They assured that they would work closely with the GEEP Desk Officers to ensure fair distribution and that the support reached those who genuinely needed it.