Top Officials Salary Race Continues with Chief Justice and Auditor General Salary Increases

AG and CJ 2027 Basic Salary Increases © Askanwi

By Askanwi

The race for salary increases among the highest-earning government officials continues in 2027, with the Chief Justice and Auditor General set for significant increases.

According to the 2027 Draft Budget, the Chief Justice’s salary is set to increase by 27.4%, from D941,850 in 2026 to D1.2 million in 2027.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General’s salary is projected to increase from D706,250 in 2026 to D2.1 million in 2027 — a staggering 198% increase.

It is important to note that there are discrepancies in the Auditor General’s reported 2026 salary figures, which we will examine in a subsequent publication.

At the lower end of the salary scale, the Government’s latest 2026 Q1 Government Labour Force Survey (GLFS) reports that public-sector employees earned mean monthly earnings of D15,095.

This means the Chief Justice’s proposed basic monthly salary would be equivalent to the combined monthly earnings of approximately 6.6 average public-sector employees.

Beyond basic salaries, top government officials also receive allowances. However, details of these allowances remain difficult to establish due to the limited information provided in the budget.

We will examine the allowances, as well as the gaps in the available information, in a subsequent publication.

But why are these increases being proposed in the 2027 Draft Budget?

Looking back at our 2026 publication on salary increases for National Assembly members provides some insight into how the salary race among top government officials has intensified over the years.

In 2025, Parliamentarians received salary increases through the 2026 Draft Budget, pushing the salaries of the Majority and Minority Leaders above that of the Auditor General. The Majority Leader’s 2026 basic salary increase also placed the position above the Chief Justice.

This year’s proposed increase would place the Chief Justice’s basic salary above that of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Our subsequent publication will examine the Chief Justice’s allowances, the Auditor General’s 198% salary increase, and the lack of clear information on the actual salaries and allowances paid in the 2027 Draft Budget.

Basic Salaries of Top Government Officials © Askanwi