By Sarah NEGEDU
President Bola Tinubu has asked state governments to invest more in judicial infrastructure and the welfare of judges, saying the responsibility of supporting the judiciary should not be left to the Federal Government alone.
The President said state governments have a duty to ensure courts within their jurisdictions are adequately funded, properly equipped and provided with the infrastructure needed for effective service delivery and the administration of justice.
Tinubu, who spoke on Tuesday, during the commissioning of 10 newly constructed duplexes for justices of the Court of Appeal at the Judges Quarters in Katampe, Abuja, stressed that investment in the judiciary is critical to the rule of law, democratic governance and effective justice delivery.
The call was echoed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who challenged governors to stop leaving judicial infrastructure entirely to the Federal Government, arguing that federal courts located in states primarily serve the people of those states.
Tinubu, in his address, described the project as a demonstration of his administration’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions and advancing the administration of justice across the country.
Represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, the president maintained that, “The responsibility of supporting the judiciary does not rest solely with the federal government. State governments have a corresponding obligation to ensure their respective judicial sectors are adequately funded, properly equipped, and provided with the infrastructure necessary for effective service delivery.”
He noted that the commissioning of the judges’ quarters was more than the unveiling of physical infrastructure, describing it as a strategic investment in the welfare, independence and effectiveness of the judiciary.
“Today’s event is much more than the unveiling of physical infrastructure; it is a tangible demonstration of the federal government’s enduring commitment to the welfare, independence, efficiency, and dignity of the judiciary.
“The welfare of judicial officers is a strategic investment in the rule of law. When judges are provided with secure accommodation and conducive working environments, the entire nation benefits.”
Tinubu said the project was a special intervention by the Federal Government, separate from the judiciary’s statutory budgetary allocations, adding that more judicial housing projects were already planned within the Katampe district.
According to him, land has also been earmarked for judges’ quarters for the National Industrial Court, the Federal High Court, the High Court of the FCT and the Code of Conduct Bureau.
Earlier in his remarks, Wike asked governors to take responsibility for supporting federal judicial institutions operating within their states instead of waiting for intervention from Abuja.
“Governors, I say this: if there is a federal judicial division in a state, that governor knows those courts are serving their own citizens. The Federal High Court, the Court of Appeal, the National Industrial Court—they do not render services to neighboring states; they serve the host state,” he said.
The FCT Minister argued that investments in judicial infrastructure should not be viewed as attempts to compromise the independence of the courts.
Recalling his tenure as governor of Rivers State, Wike said he continued to support the judiciary even after a judicial panel nullified his election.
“Some criticize these efforts, claiming it is an attempt to ‘buy the judiciary over.’ Let me clear the air: at the time we built those facilities, my own election was nullified by a panel chaired by a judge who is sitting right here today.
“Ordinarily, a politician might refuse to help after that. But who loses if we don’t build? The people of the state lose.”
He added, “Taking care of these institutions does not cost us more than we can afford, and it directly guarantees the true independence of the judiciary.”
Meanwhile, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, described the project as a significant step towards strengthening judicial independence, security and effective justice delivery.
She said providing judges with secure and dignified accommodation would protect them from undue influence and other pressures that could undermine the administration of justice.
“Secure housing protects justices and their families from external coercion and the latent risks of reprisals.
“It safeguards the confidentiality of judicial processes by reducing vulnerabilities to unauthorized access or improper interference.”
Justice Dongban-Mensem also reflected on the poor condition of judicial accommodation in the past, revealing that some justices had lived in ageing residences originally built for Nigeria’s first ministers.
“When I was the Presiding Judge of the Enugu Division, I pleaded with the governor to take over the houses occupied by the justices of the Court of Appeal and turn them into a museum to preserve our nation’s history. We were living in quarters originally built for the very first ministers of this nation. They were beyond repair, yet we endured and lived there.”
She expressed appreciation to the Tinubu administration and the FCT Administration for the project and called for similar interventions across other divisions of the Court of Appeal.
The newly commissioned estate comprises 10 fully furnished five-bedroom duplexes, a community event centre, neighbourhood shop and recreational facilities. The project forms part of a series of infrastructure developments being executed by the FCT Administration to mark the third anniversary of the Tinubu administration.
