President Bola Tinubu plans to institute a thorough review of the remuneration of judicial officers in the country as part of the strategy to check corruption in the system.
Receiving the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its president, Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), in Abuja on Thursday, Tinubu said the battle against corruption required a comprehensive review of judges’ salaries and allowances.
“We must deal with the review of remuneration if we truly want to fight corruption in the Judiciary. We will look at the cost as well as the consequences,” he was quoted as saying by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The President who was responding to a request by Maiyaku said the issue was well known to him, given his landmark success in reforming justice and administration in Lagos State when he was governor.
Acknowledgement
Tinubu also acknowledged the importance of addressing the current vacancies in the Supreme Court, stressing that this represents obligations that must be fulfilled based on recommendations by the National Judicial Council.
“Majority of them are on holiday now and when they return, we will take a look at what they have and we will fill the vacancies. It’s a fulfillment of an obligation,” he said.
The President thanked the NBA for extending an invitation to him to declare open the association’s 63rd Annual General Conference (AGC) tomorrow in Abuja.
He expressed delight at having lawyers as close aides, including Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, State Chief of Protocol Victor Adeleke and his Principal Private Secretary, Prince Damilotun Aderemi.
The NBA president in his remarks, commended Tinubu for appointing very distinguished members of the bar into his cabinet, including Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the annual NBA conference, with the theme: “Getting It Right, Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation Building,” will hold from Aug. 25 to Sept. 1.
The AGC convenes legal experts, professionals and stakeholders to discuss critical issues regarding Nigeria’s national development.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
