Senate Committee Criticises Poor Funding Of Judiciary

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, has criticised the annual insufficient allocation of funds to the judicial arm of government by the federal government.

It, therefore, made a passionate plea for additional funding for the sector in the 2022 Appropriation Bill currently being considered by the legislative arm.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, presented the request before the Senate Committee on Appropriation yesterday at the National Assembly complex.
It was gathered that the Executive arm of government made a provision of N100 billion for the judiciary in the 2022 Budget.

Speaking with newsmen after his presentation before the Senator Jibrin Barau-led Appropriation Committee, Bamidele, who disclosed that his Committee made a request for additional N30billion for the judiciary maintained that, the budget estimate was inadequate, considering the enormous responsibilities before the judiciary.

He said apart from the challenge thrown up by terrorism, there is the need to deploy technology in the dispensation of justice.

“As we speak, there are people awaiting trial as a result of insecurity: call them gunmen, bandits, terrorists – whatever you call them – the truth is, there is so much additional burden on the judiciary. Of course, there must be fair hearing for suspects apprehended, and it is additional responsibility for the judiciary. So, they need more money.

“The COVID has also made it imperative to deploy technology for virtual hearing. All of these demand money. We are talking of all levels of Court: from Magistrate to the Supreme Court, aside the special Court like Arbitration. So, both Committees in both chambers are asking for more money for the judiciary.”

Asked about the secrecy surrounding the budget of judiciary, the Senator dismissed it as a non-issue, saying it was not peculiar to the judiciary.

His words: “It isn’t our responsibility to monitor their expenditure but it is important that whatever is allocated under the National Judicial Commission is judiciously used. The secrecy you talked about isn’t peculiar to the judiciary. No one is asking about the budget of the Department of State Service or National Intelligence Agency.

“Their ( judiciary) budget isn’t up to one per cent of the entire budget. We may choose to sensationalize it, but public interest is better served if the budget of the judiciary is at least, one per cent of the entire budget. We need a well-funded judiciary so that its independence isn’t compromised.”

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