Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Attorney General and Minister of Justice has formally withdrawn the Judicial Officers Remuneration and Other Entitlements Bill, 2024, citing the need to address ambiguities and irregularities that could compromise the bill’s intent and clarity.
The executive-sponsored legislation sought to replace the outdated 2002 framework governing the pay, allowances, and benefits of judges and other judicial officers.
The bill was presented as part of a broader effort to address the prolonged stagnation in judicial compensation, which many view as a barrier to attracting top-tier legal talent to the bench.
In support of the bill, The Gambia Bar Association emphasized that the bill does not propose any increase in the salaries of judicial officers. Instead, it establishes that the Judicial Service Commission will review the adequacy of judicial officers’ emoluments whenever the government conducts a public service pay review and submit a report to the President for approval.
However, the proposal met resistance from a civic group known as the “Concerned Citizens,” who staged a peaceful protest and submitted a formal petition to the government. The group accused public officials of attempting to enrich themselves while ordinary citizens continue to struggle in poverty.
They called for greater transparency and equity in the distribution of national resources and questioned the timing and priorities of the bill.
Mama Kandeh, the GDC Secretary General, accused the government of prioritizing financial gain over low-income citizens’ needs, calling on National Assembly members to reject a bill expressing growing discontent.
The executive decision to withdraw the legislation, though not directly tied to the public outcry, was made under Standing Order 76 of the National Assembly and effectively pauses its progress in the legislative process.
In his statement, the Justice Minister noted that certain “mischiefs” in the bill’s wording needed to be corrected to ensure its purpose was not undermined.
The bill had been billed as a critical judicial reform initiative. Beyond increasing salaries, it aimed to make judicial appointments more attractive to experienced legal practitioners, promote judicial independence, and align compensation packages with regional standards.
The legislation also included retirement and survivor benefits for judges’ families—provisions meant to reflect the personal and professional demands of judicial service.
While the withdrawal has disappointed some proponents of judicial reform, government officials stress that the move is temporary. The Ministry of Justice is expected to reintroduce a revised version of the bill after necessary corrections have been made.
For now, the bill’s suspension highlights the growing public scrutiny of governance and resource allocation in The Gambia, especially amid calls for deeper reforms grounded in fairness, integrity, and accountability.
