The Governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has approved the upward review of the salaries and welfare packages of judicial officers in the state.
The governor approved 100 percent increment in salaries and welfare package of the state’s Judicial workers.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar.
According to the statement, Ayade made the announcement during the swearing-in of the new President of the Cross River Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Anjor Mbe.
The new salary package takes effect from August 1, 2022, and the salaries of the state’s High Court judges will be increased by 100 percent.
It was also announced that judges of the Customary Court of Appeal would have their salaries increased by 100 percent, while those of the Magistrates Court would be increased by 50 percent.
He also announced the immediate recruitment of 500 workers in the ministry of Justice for the first phase.
Similarly, the governor also granted all judicial officers in the state immediate land allocation.
Governor Ayade said, “As a matter of state government’s policy, any judicial officer sworn in will have his or her official car ready for delivery. ”
He also approved new recruitment into the state’s judicial service, saying, “We have witnessed massive vacancy in the Ministry of Justice occasioned by retirement. To this effect, we have approved for the Chief Judge with the support of the Head of Service and the Civil Service Commission, the employment of 500 workers in the Ministry of Justice for the first phase alone.”
He disclosed that his administration had equally approved the setting aside of 25 percent of the gross emoluments to support judicial officers’ allowances.
He said that the allowances covered vacation, and travel, among others.
Ayade pledged his administration’s readiness to support the Judicial arm of government as the need arose.
He said he acted in concert with the report of the State Judicial Welfare Review Committee set up in April.
The Committee which had retired Justice Eyo Ita as Chairman was charged with reviewing the salaries of Cross River judicial officers.
“For our judicial officers, we know the challenges of this country, for Cross River State, in particular, we are quite sensitive to all the concerns raised so far.
“That is why we set up a committee to review the conditions of service of judicial officers to make for better service delivery.
“So having studied the report of the committee and in order to enhance service delivery, Cross River State Government has hereby handsomely reviewed their salaries and welfare.”
He commended the state Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, “for her diplomatic, studious and consistent push in achieving these goals,” he stated.
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