Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has advocated the review of salaries and allowances of judicial officers in the country, urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to renew negotiation for upward review of judicial officers’ salaries as part of the agitation for judicial autonomy.
Governor Fayemi stated this during the swearing-in of Justice John Adeyeye as the acting chief judge of Ekiti State, in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
The governor observes that judicial officers in the country have been on same salary structure for over a decade, even while other categories of public servants have had theirs reviewed.
The governor also spoke on the negative consequences of COVID19 19, #EndSARS and JUSUN strikes and urged the new acting chief judge to develop practical solutions that would sustain the wheels of justice even in the face of lockdowns or strike actions.
“I am aware that between 1999 till date, the Federal Government reviewed the salaries and allowances of public servants specifically in 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2011. However, the salaries of judicial officers were only reviewed twice during the same period.
“As a result judicial officers have been on the same salary structure for more than 10 years. It may now be necessary for the NJC to provide leadership on possible renewed negotiation on this issue as part of a holistic discussion on judicial autonomy.
Read Also: Ize-Iyamu urges Obaseki to reconcile Edo Assembly members
“The frequency of closure of our courts constitutes a threat to the security of this state. It is for this reason that I respectfully urged your lordship to enable practical solutions to ensure that the wheel of justice in our state continues to turn even during lockdowns by strikes”, he said.
Justice Adeyeye in his acceptance speech pledged to uphold the oath of office which he swore to and promised to work with all stakeholders in the justice sector of the state to enhance speedy dispensation of justice that defines the 21st century judiciary.
He pledged to bring about a paradigm shift from the conventional mode of dispensing justice through the application of technology in the recording of court proceedings to enhance the administration of justice in the state.
Adeyeye, who replaced Justice Ayodeji Daramola, solicited for the supports of judicial officers with a promise to prioritise their welfare.
The acting chief judge was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East local government of Ekiti State and was called to the Bar in 1986. He started his career as a state counsel in the civil service of the old Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the creation of the state in 1996.
He got elevated to the position of a judge in the Ekiti State High Court in 2002 and has served at different times in election petition tribunals.
