Gov Otu commends House Committee for advancing welfare, funding for judiciary

The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu has commended the House Committee on Judiciary for their remarkable efforts and achievement in advancing better welfare and funding for the Judiciary.

The governor made the commendation, Wednesday, in his Office, when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary led by its Chairman, Rt. Hon. Oluwole Oke paid him a courtesy visit.

Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu with Chairman of House of Representative Committee on Judiciary, Rt. Hon. Oluwole Oke, during a courtesy call in Government House, Calabar

The governor emphasised the crucial role of the judiciary in the society and economic challenges they face while discharging their duties

“It is true that the Judiciary remains the last bastion of hope for the common man. It’s unfortunate that challenges confronting our economy, has been quite disturbing.

“It has affected almost every sector but why it is a bit sensitive for judiciary is because it presides over every judgement, and is difficult for you and the person you are passing judgement on to cohabit in the same environment,” he said.

The governor commended the efforts of the committee in securing more funding for the Judiciary and advocating for the welfare of Judges and Judiciary staff. He acknowledged the state government’s commitment to the Judiciary.

“We are very happy with the job that you are doing in ensuring the increase from N150 billion to over N300 billion for the Judiciary in the 2024 budget.

“While we are doing our best here in the State, we are also faced with very heavy financial challenges, but we are ensuring Judicial personels get their place of respect in the society,” he added.

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Otu appealed to the Committee to present the challenges faced by the judiciary in the state to the Federal government for prompt action.

Speaking earlier, Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary in the House of Representatives said their visit to the State was for oversight functions, including inspecting federal judicial infrastructures and interacting with staff and personels of the courts.

“We are here on oversight functions to inspect the federal judicial bodies and infrastructures, to interact with the personels, lords, Justices, Judges and staff of the courts.

“We are also here to interface with my Lord, the state Chief Judge under your leadership, as the pension of the retired judicial officers have not been taken over by the National Judicial Council (NJC),” Oke said.

Highlighting the challenges faced by judicial personels, Hon. Oke emphasised the need for better emoluments and welfare for Judges and Justices.

“A lot of problems confront the judiciary; our lord Justices and Judges do not have a living wage. The last time their salary was increased was in 2007. Each Judge is entitled to a new car every four years, but some Judges have spent 9years with dilapidated vehicles, and our Judges live in deplorable conditions,” Hon. Oke stated.

He further expressed the committee’s commitment to improving the funding and welfare of the Judiciary.