The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Judiciary to justify the recent improvement in its remuneration.
In a statement signed by the NBA president, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Yakubu Maikyau, the association noted that the judiciary must make a deliberate and conscious effort to work back into the hearts of Nigerians and revive public confidence in that arm of government.
While applauding the efforts that went into enacting the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, the NBA also called on the National and State Houses of Assembly to seriously consider the inclusion of Magistrates within the definition of Judicial Officers in the Constitution in the ongoing Constitutional review.
“The Magistrates across the Country are responsible for the handling of most criminal matters at the lower level of the society, and the institution of the magistracy across the states needs to be strengthened and better funded, to help improve grassroots justice delivery and curb the menace of criminal activities in our society”.
Also, other Judiciary staff; Registrars, Legal Assistants and other court workers, must similarly be catered for, if the improvement of the welfare of Justices and Judges is to make any meaningful impact on the overall justice delivery process in the courts”.
The association says going forward, the focus of the NBA will be on identifying and responding to issues that are fundamental to the continued strengthening of the judiciary.
These include matters of appointment, discipline and elevation of judicial officers. The need to strengthen judicial oversight bodies is no less important.
The NBA President also expressed confidence that his successor, Afam Osigwe, the NBA president-elect, will prioritise the issues when he takes office later this month.
Last week, President Bola Tinubu signed the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc. Act 2024 into law raising judges’ earnings by as much as 300 per cent.
In his inaugural address as president of the bar on August 26, 2022, Maikyau had said thus: “My administration will not only continue with the actions which seek essentially to protect the dignity of the judiciary for proper discharge of its constitutional functions and duties, we will seek engagement with government and other stakeholders in ensuring that immediate measures are taken to guarantee proper remuneration for Judges and Justices in service and for their comfort upon retirement.”
Credit: channelstv.com
