Nigerian judges urged to improve Judiciary

Goodluck Jonathan

Nigerian judges urged to improve Judiciary
Lawan Hamidu and Chukwumerije Aja, Abuja

The Nigerian Judiciary has been urged to improve on the pace of dispensation of justice, sustain ethics and discharge their role creditably for the government’s transformation agenda to succeed.

Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, made the call at the opening ceremony of the All Nigeria Judges' Conference in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, on Monday.

Jonathan stressed that the judiciary must speedily and effectively dispense justice if it will continue to enjoy the confidence of the public.

Nigerian judges have gathered in Abuja, Nigeria's capital to brainstorm on ways of improving the judiciary.

At a one week Bi-annual conference tagged "Towards A Sustainable Judicial Ethics in Nigeria," which began Monday, participating judges are expected to brainstorm on challenges facing the judiciary.

Constitutional amendment

While commending the effort of the judiciary to the growth, development and peace in the country, he called for the judiciary's support in the constitutional amendment being proposed to reflect current realities in the country.

President Jonathan said the legal institution would be in the best position to make strong recommendations in the amendment of Nigeria's constitution.

Good Conduct

Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, urged the participants to ensure high standard conduct to bring sustainable respect to the judiciary.

Justice Musdapher also called on all state governments to increase commitment to the efforts in enthroning justices in the country, through adequate and timely provision of funds to states judiciary.

He said the system must continue to discharge its ethics if Nigeria's transformation agenda will succeed.

The CJN said the judiciary is determined to face the challenges squarely and ensure that the ethics of the Bench was upheld by all judicial officers.

He called on all judicial officers to actively participate in establishing, maintaining and enforcing high standard of conduct so as to sustain the respect for the independence of the system.

Stressing the need to build capacity of judicial officers and their support staff both at the state and federal levels, Justice Musdapher called on state governments to comply with the provisions of the constitution in the area of funding of the judiciary at the level of the state.

 
Hauwa Abu/Williams