Nigeria Content Online

On Monday, the
Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasiru Ajanah, advocated for the financial
autonomy of the state’s judiciary as a vital element in maintaining its
independence.

Justice Ajanah made
the appeal while speaking during the commencement of the 2010/2011
legal year at the State High Sourt in Lokoja.

“It is important to
reiterate here and strongly emphasize that the judiciary is not seeking
autonomy for its own sake, but in the interest of the government and
generality of the people.” The state chief judge said the court’s
financial independence was supported by section 121[3] of the 1999
constitution, which states that money from the consolidated revenue
fund belonging to the judiciary should be paid directly to the heads of
the courts.

“The truth remains
that the Nigerian system of government involves checks and balances
between the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary,” he said.
“The independent judiciary has a vital constitutional role to ensure
that the acts of the Executive and the Legislature comply fully with
the basic law and that the fundamental rights and freedoms which are at
the heart of the Nigerian constitution are fully safeguarded.” Mr
Ajanah also appealed to the state governor, Ibrahim Idris, to ensure
the implementation of the constitutional provision.

Staff welfare

Mr Ajanah said that
the state judiciary was the first to implement the new salary structure
for judicial workers. He also said that within the year, laptops were
provided to all 60 magistrates manning the various courts.

“This has greatly improved the quality of judgments coming from those courts,” he said.

Mr Ajanah said that
the effect of the implementation of the new salary structure meant an
improvement in the welfare of the workers and a reduction of corruption
to the barest minimum. He promised to extend the arrangement to the
area courts in the coming year.

“We are also working towards acquiring verbatim reporting equipment
to reduce the issue of recording proceedings in long hand,” he said.