NAN-H-62
Welfare
By Veronica Dariya
Abuja, Jan. 17, 2017 (NAN) A lawyer and activist, Mrs Theresa Mbanifo, on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to improve the welfare of Nigerian judges for better performance.
Mbanefo gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
She said that the allowances of judges needed to be increased and additional security attached to them if they were to be effective in the discharge of their constitutional role.
The lawyer added that more training would make the judges even more effective in the performance of their duties.
“The welfare of judges and their security must be a priority.
“When you consider the allowances of the members of the National Assembly and the number of times they sit in a month and compare it to that of the judges, you will find a huge gap.
“These judges sit almost every day and for hours beyond official time, yet their allowances, their salaries are nothing to talk about; this can and should improve.
“You want judges to deliver judgments against corrupt politicians, who move with armed thugs, yet these judges do not have enough security aside the orderlies, who go to court with them.
“Yet we expect them to be courageous and boldly deliver judgments against the ones, who can carry out violent actions against them or their families.
“They need to be encouraged and protected – both in the office and in their homes.
“They should also be given opportunities to train more and expand their horizons,’’ the activist said.
Mbanifo said that judicial reform would be better achieved with an independent judiciary.
According to her, that will give room for improved infrastructure in court rooms, enhanced staff welfare and general improvement in other programmes the system may have to attend to. (NAN)
DVK/FF/YEE
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Emmanuel Yashim
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