The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has defended the construction of residential houses for judges and justices in Abuja, saying the initiative does not threaten the independence of the judiciary.
Wike made the remarks on Friday after inspecting ongoing judicial infrastructure projects, including judges’ quarters, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division, and proposed residences for judges of the Industrial Court and the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
His comments follow concerns reportedly raised by the Nigerian Bar Association over executive involvement in providing infrastructure for the judiciary.
Responding to the criticism, the minister argued that government support for judicial infrastructure is not new and does not interfere with judicial independence.
He noted that similar arrangements had existed in the past, including government-built facilities for the Supreme Court and other arms of government.
Wike also accused the NBA leadership of inconsistency, saying the association often seeks sponsorship from governments for its events while criticising similar government interventions.
According to him, the projects are part of efforts to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers, not to influence their decisions.
He added that the housing projects for judges form part of activities scheduled for the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the level of completion of the judges’ quarters, describing them as nearly ready for inauguration and well furnished.
However, he raised concerns about the quality of finishing at the Court of Appeal project in Abuja, stating that some errors must be corrected before it is officially commissioned.
Wike assured that the FCT Administration would continue to monitor contractors closely to ensure all projects meet required standards and are completed on schedule.
