Strive To Maintain Public Trust, CJN Tasks Judges 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has tasked judicial officers in Nigeria to work assiduously towards sustaining public confidence and trust reposed on the judiciary. Ariwoola posited that as indispensable pillars of democracy, judicial officers must distance themselves from all forms of indiscretions and ventures capable of bringing the judiciary to disrepute.  The CJN gave the charge at the opening ceremony of the 2023, All Nigerian Judges’ Conference in Abuja.  “My Lords, the importance of the foregoing cannot be overemphasized since what we do now will invariably determine the legacy we leave behind.  Justice Ariwoola described the conference as a “convergence of the most brilliant minds and mainstays of hope and order in the society” adding that the conference primarily serves the dual purpose of stocktaking and visioneering.  The CJN expressed dismay over the way decisions of the Court are treated with orders of the Court being flagrantly disobeyed.  “While there is no justification for this, it is impossible to divorce this unsettling development from the perceived image of the Judiciary as a mere appendage of the other arms of government, expected to do their bidding at all times and incapable of making decisions devoid of predilection.  He exuded confidence that the Conference, which is the first since the commencement of the new administration, will come with an improved disposition towards the welfare of the Judiciary especially as it pertains to the protracted issue of its independence as well as a strong desire to foster healthy and productive relationships among all three arms.  “It is my hope that the Conference will help drive robust discussions between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary on fostering mutual respect for one another and also on strengthening synergies devoid of any subterfuge.  “It will equally afford us the opportunity to unravel the issues already identified, the bulk of which holds grave repercussions for Nigeria’s polity.  “It is also my firm belief that this interface will reaffirm across the board, our commitment to upholding the tenets of Democracy and the Rule of Law therefore bolstering the trust and confidence of the citizenry in the operationality of the government” Justice Ariwoola stated.  In his welcome address, the Administrator, National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Salisu Abdullahi, said the Conference provides a platform to give judges the  acclaim for their unrelenting devotion to prospering the ends of justice, and for their conspicuous role in nation building.  Secondly, he said the Conference affords Judges the opportunity to critically appraise happenings and developments in the course of the year, especially those that greatly impacted the performance of their functions and which holds great implications for the Judiciary by extension.  “In the same vein, while it is a cardinal rule of natural justice that no one should be a judge in his own cause, this Conference offers an apposite exception to this since it allows judicial officers to evaluate and critique themselves, Abdullahi said.  The goal of such evaluation, he said, is to enable advancement and growth within the Judiciary through the conclusions that will be reached and strategies that will be devised from robust discussions led at the Conference.  He stated that the theme of the Conference; “STRENGTHENING JUDICIAL COMMITMENTS TO THE RULE OF LAW AND DEMOCRACY”, will afford Judges the opportunity to recharge, recalibrate and re-strategize. 

Economic Reforms: BudgiT tasks Tinubu on transparency, accountability

BudgiT, a civic tech organization, is advocating for the implementation of a transparency and accountability plan to ensure the fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitments. This call follows President Tinubu’s national broadcast on July 31, 2023, addressing the prevailing economic challenges in the country. During his speech, President Tinubu unveiled various measures to address the economic crisis. Notably, he announced a budget allocation of N75 billion from July 2023 to March 2024 to support 75 promising manufacturing enterprises with N1 billion credit each. These credits would carry a 9 percent interest rate for long-term loans spanning up to 60 months and 12 months for working capital. BudgiT, in a statement signed by its Communications Associate, Nancy Odimegwu, emphasized the importance of transparent execution. The organization highlighted President Tinubu’s commitment to stabilize staple food prices by releasing 200,000 metric tonnes of grains and 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer and inputs to farmers. Moreover, President Tinubu outlined plans to bolster Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through an N125 billion investment. This initiative includes allocating N50 billion as a Conditional Grant to support 1 million nano businesses and dedicating N75 billion to assist 100,000 MSMEs and start-ups. Additionally, the introduction of affordable Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fueled buses, backed by an N100 billion investment, and collaboration with labour unions to establish a new national minimum wage were outlined in the plan. While acknowledging the substantial effort to navigate the intricacies of the economic crisis arising from fuel subsidy removal, BudgiT stressed that the successful execution of these commitments hinges on transparent planning and robust accountability mechanisms.