From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Wole Oke, has commended President Bola Tinubu, Minister of Justice and Attorney of the Federation ( AGF), as well as the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas over the passage of the bill increasing the remuneration of judicial officers.
Oke, in a statement, on Friday, also expressed appreciation to members of the House and the leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA), over the passage of the bill. He expressed optimism judicial officers are now better placed to deliver services to the citizens.
According to him, “the last time the salaries of judicial officer were reviewed was in 2007. So, we are glad that Mr President, the Speaker, the Attorney General has heeded our plea and approved new salaries and allowances for them. With this, the nation can be assured of improved dispensation of justice because the welfare of the judicial workforce cannot be dismissed.”
Oke, who also represents Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency of Osun State, also called President Tinubu’s attention to the infrastructural decay in the judiciary.
“The decay in our court premises and residential quarters of our judges need to be looked into. The more we have better infrastructure, the better the readiness of our judicial officers to dispense services to the society at large.
“The Court of Appeal is struggling with management of off-season elections petitions. Tribunals have 20 cases currently ongoing and the judiciary itself does not have adequate manpower. They can’t recruit if they don’t have enough resources to pay them. So, we plead with our beloved President to look at this too,” he said.
The lawmaker, while imploring the President to acede to yearnings of members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria( JUSUN) for improved remuneration, tasked the Judiciary to continue to perform their job without fear or favour.