JSC fights off bid to cap sitting allowances

Judicial Service Commission Secretary Anne Amadi

The Judicial Service Commission has intensified its war with the Salaries and Remuneration Commission over a move to cap its sitting allowances.

JSC Secretary Anne Amadi accused SRC of overstepping its mandate in seeking to limit the number of paid meetings the JSC should have per month, arguing that the commission is an independent organ not subject to any direction.

"SRC can only set the remuneration for JSC but cannot set the number of paid sittings they have since that will be attempting to interfere with our administrative independence. In any event, SRC can only review benefits of state officers but not independent constitutional offices," said Amadi in an affidavit filed at the High Court registry.

Ms Amadi, who doubles up as the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, further said it is wrong for SRC to base their arguments on the fact that JSC commissioners are holding other public positions, which enables them to earn double salaries.

She denied claims by SRC that the commission had misused public funds in paying for sitting allowances, arguing that a report by the Auditor General had only recommended that any money overpaid should be refunded.

"The income that members earn from their full-time employments in other offices has no bearing on the allowances they earn while doing duties at the JSC. They are entitled to those pay whenever attending to JSC matters," she said.

She said SRC had resorted to making baseless claims to discredit the commission.