President Muhammadu Buhari has approved and directed that
measures be taken for the implementation of the enhanced salary and welfare
scheme for judicial officers.
The President, represented by the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), made this known on
Friday at the inauguration and handover ceremony of Nabo Graham-Douglas Campus
of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt to the Council of Legal Education.
The law school campus was built and donated by the Governor
Nyesom Wike-led Rivers State Government.
A statement by Malami’s Special Assistant (Media and Public
Relations), Dr. Umar Gwandu, said Buhari directed the Chairman, Revenue
Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission and the AGF to promptly commence
measures towards the realisation and implementation of enhanced salary and
welfare scheme for judicial officers in the country.
The President said this and many other initiatives were
targeted at significantly strengthening the capacity and independence of the
judiciary, which, he said, remained a pillar of strength and stability for the
nation’s democracy.
“This administration will, therefore, continue to support
efforts to transform the judiciary, as part of a critical strategy in ensuring
a fair, progressive and prosperous society, with the rule of law as its
cornerstone,” he said.
The President also called on the judiciary to continue to
uphold the ethics of their profession and operate with accountability and
probity in the exercise of their judicial and administrative duties.
He also charged the Council of Legal Education to sustain
the trust by optimally maintaining and running the project in furtherance of
the quest to improve and sustain high standards in legal education.
“The legal profession thrives on sound learning, ethical
values, and good character. Therefore, it is our abiding duty to sustain high
standards for those on whose shoulders rest the future of both the Bar and the
bench,” he said.
Buhari also commended Wike and congratulated the people of
the Rivers State, the CLE, Nigerian Law School and the entire justice sector
family for the initiative, which, he said, culminated in the building and
handover of the new campus to the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law
School.
He described as commendable the naming the newly
commissioned campus after Nabo Graham-Douglas (SAN); former Attorney-General of
Eastern Nigeria, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Rivers State
and Attorney-General of the Federation.