By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly has passed the Judicial Officers (Conditions of Service) Bill, 2025, a landmark legislation designed to reinforce judicial independence and safeguard the welfare of judges and magistrates in The Gambia.
The bill was tabled for its third reading by the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology on behalf of the Minister of Justice, Dawda A. Jallow.
The legislation fulfills provisions of Chapter VII of the 1997 Constitution, which establishes the judiciary as a coequal branch of government and mandates the Judicial Service Commission to regulate the terms and conditions of service for judicial officers.
It also gives effect to Section 120(3) of the Constitution, which affirms that “the judiciary shall be independent and shall be subject only to this Constitution and the law.” Lawmakers emphasized that such independence must be supported by secure conditions of service, including fair and protected remuneration.
In addition, the bill operationalizes Section 142 of the Constitution, which requires an Act of the National Assembly to prescribe the salary, allowances, gratuity, and pensions of judges. The same section expressly prohibits any reduction in a judge’s remuneration or entitlements to their disadvantage.
The passage of this bill is seen as a critical step toward strengthening judicial integrity and ensuring that members of the bench can discharge their duties without fear or favor.