…………As he advocates enhance welfare for Judiciary
The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, has advocated for better welfare for judiciary officers,while emphasising the critical role of infrastructure development in fast tracking the dispensation of justice and fostering national progress
The Minister, made this statement at the occasion of the Court of Appeal’s Annual End of Year Conference on Thursday, 12th December, 2024.
In a statement signed by Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations, it was revealed, that the Minister Expressed appreciation for the judiciary’s indispensable contributions to good governance, as well as reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the effective delivery of justice through the provision of critical road infrastructure.6)
The Minister outlined the major achievements of the Ministry to include but not limited to;
i. Improved access to judicial facilities: significant progress has been made in constructing and rehabilitating road networks that connect rural and urban communities, ensuring seamless access to courts for legal practitioners, litigants and the general public and
ii. Modernisation of court infrastructure: collaborative efforts with stakeholders have supported the construction of state-of-the-art court complexes and the adoption of digital infrastructure for virtual hearings and e-filing systems.
Engr. Umahi also highlighted specific projects completed in judicial zones, which have greatly enhanced mobility of personnel and materials, as well as judicial efficiency.
The Minister emphasised that easy access to Courts eliminate delay occasioned by travel difficulties, guaranteeing a more efficient judicial process. In effect, improving the road infrastructure will significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of the legal system.
He maintained that the welfare and working conditions for Judicial Officers will add a huge impetus to higher productivity and greater commitment to work and greatly reduce corruption.
The Minister further revealed that the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, inherited a total of 18,932.50 kilometres of ongoing projects with a total of 2,064 subsisting contracts, some of which have lasted for 18 to 20 years, valued at N14,424,982,425,616.40k (fourteen trillion, four hundred and twenty-four billion, nine hundred and eighty-two million, four hundred and twenty-five thousand, six hundred and sixteen naira, forty kobo) as of 29th May, 2023.
He also revealed that President Tinubu’s roadmap on road infrastructure centres on how to restore the confidence of Nigerians on the Federal roads.
Engr. Umahi unveiled plans for upcoming projects that aim to further facilitate judicial operations and improved accessibility, nationwide.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to supporting the judiciary and fostering an environment where justice delivery is seamless and effective. He, finally, expressed gratitude to the judiciary for its partnership, while pledging continued dedication to national development.
Earlier, in a Keynote Address, the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kereke-Ekun harped on the importance of judicial introspection, ethical conduct and leveraging technology for a more efficient and effective system.
She highlighted the need for multi jurge deliberations to improve appellate courts’ decisions and stressed the adoption of innovative practices like alternative dispute resolution and improved case management to address judicial back logs and public trust issues.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Session, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN criticised the societal tendency to blame Judges for systemic corruption, while urging the judiciary to defend its independence. He called for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protect Judges against unwarranted accusations, advocating for being focused on fairness and integrity in all court rulings.
