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By Abel Damashekiya
The administration of Governor Uba Sani is deepening its investment in the judiciary, with a series of interventions aimed at creating a more conducive working environment for judicial officers and improving the overall administration of justice in Kaduna State.
The interventions, which have attracted commendation from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch, and other well meaning Stakeholders, include the massive renovation and rehabilitation of the High Court complex, the provision of 40 official vehicles for judges across the High Court, Shari’ah Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal, as well as the restoration of robe allowances for magistrates.
For the NBA, these measures represent more than improvements to government buildings or the provision of official vehicles. They are investments in an institution that occupies a central position in the maintenance of the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights.
The significance of the intervention becomes clearer when viewed against the demands placed on the judiciary. Courts are expected to dispense justice efficiently, fairly and without unnecessary delay. Judicial officers must therefore operate in environments that enable them to perform their constitutional and professional responsibilities effectively.
A dilapidated court complex, inadequate mobility and poor working conditions can undermine that objective. Judges and other judicial officers often have to travel for official duties, attend court sessions and undertake other responsibilities requiring reliable transportation and adequate logistical support.
The provision of 40 official vehicles is consequently a practical intervention. According to the NBA, the vehicles were provided to judges of the High Court, Shari’ah Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal. The association said the measure would enhance the working environment, mobility and overall performance of judicial officers.
This is particularly important in a state where the judiciary handles disputes and cases involving individuals, families, businesses, communities and government institutions. The more efficiently judicial officers can perform their duties, the greater the possibility of timely determination of cases.
The rehabilitation of the High Court Complex is equally significant for the following reasons: Court facilities are not merely office spaces. They are the physical environment within which litigants, lawyers, witnesses, judges and other stakeholders participate in the justice process.
A properly maintained court complex can improve the dignity of proceedings, enhance the experience of court users and provide judicial officers and support personnel with a more suitable environment in which to work.
The restoration of robe allowances for magistrates is another aspect of the intervention that deserves attention. The NBA noted that the government not only restored payment of the allowance but also paid the outstanding 2024 robe allowance in 2025.
While such an allowance may appear modest compared with infrastructure projects, its restoration carries institutional significance. It demonstrates recognition of the conditions under which judicial officers operate and reinforces the importance of providing the personnel of the justice system with the resources required for their duties.
The first beneficiaries of the interventions are judicial officers themselves. Improved facilities, reliable official transportation and better working conditions can enable judges and magistrates to discharge their responsibilities with greater efficiency.
Lawyers also stand to benefit. A functional and properly equipped judiciary makes legal practice more predictable and efficient. When courts are adequately supported, lawyers can prosecute and defend cases in an environment less constrained by infrastructural and logistical shortcomings.
For litigants, the ultimate benefit is potentially more profound. People who approach the courts do so because they seek justice, resolution of disputes or protection of their rights. Delays can impose financial, emotional and social costs, particularly on individuals who may have limited resources.
Investment in the judiciary can therefore contribute to improved access to justice and a reduction in avoidable delays.
Businesses and investors also have a stake in a strong justice system. An effective judiciary provides a dependable mechanism for resolving commercial disputes, enforcing rights and settling disagreements according to law. Confidence in the justice system can consequently contribute to a healthier business environment.
The wider society equally stands to benefit. A judiciary that is adequately supported strengthens the rule of law and reinforces the principle that disputes should be resolved through lawful institutions rather than through self-help, intimidation or other extra-legal means.
The commendation from the NBA, however, came with an important appeal.
The association urged Governor Uba Sani to extend the provision of official vehicles to lower courts and improve their facilities and working conditions.
This request is significant because magistrates and other judicial officers at the lower levels are often at the frontline of justice delivery. They deal directly with a substantial volume of cases and are frequently the first point of contact between ordinary citizens and the formal justice system. Strengthening only the higher courts would therefore leave an important part of the justice chain inadequately supported.
The NBA’s position that magistrates and other judicial officers require adequate logistical and infrastructural support underscores the need for a comprehensive approach. The effectiveness of justice delivery depends not only on appellate and superior courts but also on the institutions at the grassroots level.
Extending these interventions to lower courts would make the reform more inclusive and could further improve access to justice for citizens across Kaduna State. Perhaps the most important aspect of the development is what it says about the relationship between government and the judiciary.
A functioning democracy requires institutions capable of operating according to law. The judiciary serves as an essential pillar of that democratic structure by interpreting the law, resolving disputes and safeguarding the rights of citizens.
Investment in the judiciary should therefore not be viewed merely as government expenditure on infrastructure or official conveniences. It is an investment in institutional capacity. When judicial officers have suitable facilities and the logistical means to perform their duties, the entire justice system is better positioned to deliver on its responsibilities.
The NBA’s commendation that the initiatives demonstrate government’s appreciation of the judiciary as a critical institution for sustaining the rule of law and effective justice delivery is, therefore, very instructive.
For Governor Uba Sani, the challenge going forward will be to sustain the momentum and ensure that the intervention reaches every important layer of the justice system.
The continued investment advocated by the NBA could help reduce delays, improve access to justice and strengthen public confidence in the courts.
Ultimately, the strength of a judiciary is measured not only by the quality of its laws or the sophistication of its courts, but by the ability of ordinary citizens to obtain justice without unnecessary obstacles.
By renovating court facilities, improving judicial mobility and restoring allowances for magistrates, the Uba Sani administration has taken steps in that direction. Extending similar support to the lower courts would further consolidate the gains and ensure that the benefits of the intervention are felt throughout Kaduna’s justice system.
A stronger judiciary means more than better courtrooms. It means a justice system better equipped to serve citizens, protect rights, resolve disputes and uphold the rule of law. In that sense, investment in the judiciary is ultimately an investment in the stability, fairness and development of Kaduna State.
• Damashekiya, a public affairs analyst and good governance advocate, writes from Kaduna
