By Seun Adams
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has advocated for better welfare for judiciary officers even as he said reiterates the critical role of road infrastructure delivery in fast tracking the dispensation of justice and fostering national progress.
Speaking at the 2024 Court of appeal’s annual end of year conference in a paper titled: “The importance of Judicial infrastructure to adjudication” he stated that improved accessibility to justice system through judicial infrastructure digitalization was an administrative imperative of government at all levels.
The Minister expressed the ministry’s commitment to supporting the effective delivery of justice through the provision of critical road infrastructure.
In a statement signed by both the Special Adviser and Directors of Communications in the Ministry, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji and Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, acknowledged that improved access to judicial facilities: significant progress has been made in constructing and rehabilitating road networks that connect rural and urban communities, ensuring seamless access to courts for legal practitioners, litigants and the general public.
According to him, improved access roads, courts rooms/judicial quarters, power supply, electronic infrastructure will reduce delays in adjudication, promote qualitative and quantitative judicial productivity and ultimately improve justice delivery system.
He said: “The availability of the needed judicial infrastructure catalyzes equal and free access to justice as well as the speedy dispensation of justice. Infrastructure speaks a lot about enhancing judicial productivity, both qualitatively and quantitatively, as it makes justice delivery system accessible, cost effective, transparent, and accountable.”
The Minister praised the resilience of judicial officers in Nigeria and the profoundness of their adjudication despite inherent challenges.
He also reeled out the decisive steps taken by the renewed hope administration which he added is aimed at tackling the accumulated judicial infrastructure deficits, including the provision of enduring access roads nationwide, modern court structures, increased power supply, other electronic infrastructure and judicial welfare being made available to enhance the operational efficiency of the Judiciary.
According to him, the renewed hope agenda of the President is anchored on a transformational policy thrust aimed at revolutionizing the critical infrastructure that will stimulate socio-economic development, adding that the infrastructure necessary to ensure delivery of justice and effective adjudication are a part of the policy thrust of the present administration.
He further said, “Mr. President’s efforts to enhance the operational efficiency of the Judiciary through housing programmes, enhanced welfare package for the judicial officers, creation of enduring road infrastructure, investment in power and digital infrastructure should be commended. All these efforts will have a multiplier effect on the outcome of adjudication as it guarantees accelerated leaning, reduces cost of justice delivery and promotes the independence of the Judiciary.
“Modernisation of court infrastructure: collaborative efforts with stakeholders have supported the construction of state-of-the-art court complexes and the adoption of digital infrastructure for virtual hearings and e-filing systems.”
Umahi, also highlighted specific projects completed in judicial zones, which have greatly enhanced mobility of personnel and materials, as well as judicial efficiency.
“Access road plays a critical role in adjudication. I can recall watching a particular video clip, where lawyers going to court in a particular state got to a particular spot, where they could not drive their cars into the court premises.
“It was during the rainy season and the access road to the Court was in a dilapidated state, some lawyers turned back, while others removed their shoes and socks, folded their trousers and walked through the path to the Court.
“I wandered what the Judge might have done, each day he got to that spot during the rainy season, knowing that lack of access road to the court cannot be an excuse for not filing adequate case returns in each quarter. It provision ensures that everyone has equal opportunity to seek redress and participate in the adjudication process.” he added.
According to him, easy access to courts eliminate delay occasioned by travel difficulties, guaranteeing a more efficient judicial process. In effect, improving the road infrastructure will significantly enhance the overall effectiveness of the legal system.
He maintained that the welfare and working conditions for Judicial Officers will add a huge impetus to higher productivity and greater commitment to work and greatly reduce corruption.
He added that the present administration inherited a total of 18,932.50km of ongoing projects with a total of 2,064 subsisting contracts, some of which have lasted for 18 to 20 years, valued at N14, 424,982,425,616. 40k as of 29th May, 2023.
President Tinubu’s roadmap on road infrastructure, he explained centres on how to restore the confidence of Nigerians on the Federal roads.
He also acknowledged challenges such as funding constraints and bureaucratic delays, stressing the importance of innovative approaches, and partnerships to overcoming them, stressing that the Ministry is proactively exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration with the judiciary and the private sector toward ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.
Earlier, in a remark, the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kereke-Ekun, harped on the importance of judicial introspection, ethical conduct and leveraging technology for a more efficient and effective system.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Session, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Kanu Agabi, SAN criticised the societal tendency to blame Judges for systemic corruption, while urging the judiciary to defend its independence.
He called for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protect Judges against unwarranted accusations, advocating for being focused on fairness and integrity in all court rulings, while describing the Minister as a very intelligent, honest and hardworking person, who transformed Ebonyi State and is now replicating same at the Federal level as the Minister of Works.
