The Attorney General of the
Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, revealed on Monday
in Abuja that Nigeria’s judiciary received the best funding so far under
President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also promised better days for
the judicial officers and their institutions in the country when the planned
improved packages are implemented.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of
Nigeria, SAN, spoke at the Supreme Court during its 2022/2023 Legal Year and
inauguration of the newly appointed 62 Senior Advocates.
He said the President Buhari-led
administration, in line with its commitment to promoting the rule of law, has
accorded top priority to the funding of the judiciary.
Specifically, Malami said the
government had ensured a “progressive budgetary allocation to the judiciary,
which has seen an increase from N73 billion in 2015 to over N130 billion in
2022.”
He revealed that a further
increased sum of N150 billion had been proposed for 2023.
“In addition to the foregoing, we
have provided special intervention when the need arises, particularly, in
meeting the huge cost of running election tribunals,” he said.
Malami, therefore, called for
collective efforts from the judiciary to attain the desired levels of good
governance and development, as he said law and development are interwoven.
He noted that positive changes in
the judiciary would, by necessary implication, serve as precipitating factors
for the much-needed developments in the national polity
The Minister expressed high
optimism that the recent approval granted by President Buhari, in addition, to
an increase in the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, but also for
conditions for their health, well-being and professional development, will
usher in a new lease of life and impetus for the judiciary to operate maximally
in a more beneficial and rewarding environment.
Malami disclosed that the Federal
Ministry of Justice is reviewing the National Policy on Justice to enhance
stakeholders’ ability to tackle issues hindering the entire justice sector.
“Only recently, the Federal
Executive Council approved the revised National Anti-Corruption Strategy and
Action Plan (2022–2026). We have also recorded modest gains from the
operationalization of the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and
Management) Act, 2022,” he said.
Malami explained that such
recoveries running into billions in various currencies are being ploughed into
funding critical infrastructural projects, such as the Abuja-Kano &
Lagos-Ibadan Expressways and 2nd Niger Bridge, all under the Presidential
Infrastructure.
He commended the Legal
Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), under the leadership of the Chief
Justice of Nigeria, for striving to sustain high standards in the profession by
meticulously sieving through multiple applications to arrive at the 62 recipients.
Malami expressed delight at the
increasing number of career civil servants making the final list of Senior
Advocate of Nigeria annually, which he described as a pointer to a rebirth of
quality advocacy at the official bar, which he said needs to be sustained and
encouraged.
“We cannot bemoan dearth of
competent advocacy in the public service without taking positive steps to chart
a way forward on capacity building and provision of equal opportunities for our
State Counsel or Legal Officers,” he said.
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