President, Nigerian Law Society (NLS) Kunle Ogunba SAN Speaks on the 5th Alteration Bill
In the early hours of Saturday the 8th of October, 2016, the whole world particularly Nigerians woke up to the sad news of the raid of the homes of some judges in the Nigerian judiciary which raid, it was later discovered had commenced on Friday the 7th day of October and lasted till the early hours of the aforesaid Saturday the 8th of October, 2016.
That unprecedented event marked a dark annal in the history of the Nigerian judiciary and haunted the Buhari administration till its very end.
The intent of that gory episode was in pursuance of its much taunted war on corruption whether that administration effectively fought that war is the story for another day!.
When juxtaposed with the beginning of the Tinubu administration who in its early days particularly today the 8th day of June, 2023 signed the fifth Alteration (no) 37 of the 1999 constitution into Law. This step in the early days of this administration shows the importance the judiciary is accorded but we hasten to state that even though it is a step in the right direction but the major problem within our judiciary is not that of age of retirement!.
The salaries and conditions of service of our judges are poor.
This administration should as a matter of urgency review the earnings and emoluments of our judiciary at all levels if we expect the best from them.
As active practitioners within the system we are aware that good, honest and dedicated judges abounds within their ranks whilst conceding that there may be a few bad apples within!. Therefore this is a clarion call on the president to take more decisive steps in addressing the problems beleaguering the judiciary wholistically!.
There is the issue of outdated infrastructure as some of the court rooms dates back to the colonial days with little or no improvement whatsoever, and with expected harsh realities of the recent increase in petroleum products; the welfare of judges, nay the struggling judicial staff should be accorded a pride of place in the coming months if not weeks.
The template has even been laid by the past administration as the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation informed the whole nation on the 18th of November, 2022 during the commissioning of the Port harcourt Law school campus that President Buhari has previously assented to such increaments for the judiciary and its officers.
We at NLS wish his excellency, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR a successful tenure in office
On Remuneration of Judges see NICN/ABJ/142/2022 CHIEF SEBASTINE TAR HON SAN v NATIONAL ASSEMBLY & ORS
