From Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Governor Dr Nasir Idris has donated the sum of N100 million for the completion of the Secretariat of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)State Chapter as well as inaugurated the Justice Sector Reform Team and Steering Committee.
Idris, who made the donation, while inaugurating the Committees at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, also unveiled the Gender-Based Violence Support unit, Citizens Rights and Public Engagement units under the Ministry of Justice, Kebbi State.
While addressing the reforms team and other stakeholders at the event, the Governor noted that it was not a good thing to see the Judiciary Staff waiting for Motorcycles and Keke Napep on their way to court to file and prosecute cases.
According to him, “It is not good enough to be hearing that Judiciary Staff are taking motorcycles and Keke Napep to the Courts. We have just started to address the issue of the mobility of our High Court Judges and that of the Khadis.
“So, I want you to feel free because this is your administration. This administration is for all of you. We have just started and Insha Allahu, we are going to reach all of you.
“And on the issue of the ongoing secretariat, we are going to donate the sum of N100 million for the completion of the Secretariat. When I was discussing with the Attorney General of the state, I asked him if should we go for the official vehicles or the secretariat.
“We have not finished the discussion when I say, no, let us go for the completion of the Secretariat. Because, we don’t want the NBA national body to zone a meeting here or other states to approve a meeting here in Kebbi State and there is no Secretariat to host them.
“The vehicle that was said to be grounded, we would provide money for you to repair it.”
Governor Idris who congratulated the Judiciary, Kebbi State, for the successful inauguration of the Justice Sector Reform Team and other two committees, asked them to continue to support his administration.
He added his administration is committed to the improvement of the workers’ welfare, and the development of infrastructure facilities in the state, and stressed that the Justice reform committee would ensure the quick delivery of justice to citizens.
Earlier, the Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Alhaji Muhammed Usman Zuru, described the inauguration of the Justice Sector Reform Team and other committees as a historical moment in the history of the judiciary in the state.
Zuru noted that the inauguration of the Committees would implement quick justice delivery, and ensure that all citizen’s rights were fully protected.
In his remark, the Chief Judge of Kebbi State, Justice Umar Abubakar said the inauguration of the Committee was in accordance with Section 3 of the Justice Sector Reform Bill of 2023 which was passed and signed into law by the Governor on 29/12/2024.
He noted that the Justice Sector Reform Team and other committees’ inauguration would reduce the rights of citizens violation, reduction of crimes, provision of legal services to people and monitor justice delivery, among others.
In his remark, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Dr Junaidu Bello Marshall noted that the present administration under Dr Nasir Idris has done a lot for the Ministry of Justice, stressed that the inauguration of the Justice Sector Reform Team and two other Committees would go a long way to decongest the correctional centres.