Abuja, Nov. 28, 2022 – Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, on Monday said that the judiciary received the highest budgetary allocation of N130 billion in 2022.
He said that the judiciary had the best funding under President Muhammadu Buhari and promised promised better days for the judicial officers and their institutions in the country when the planned improved packages are implemented.
Malami, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, spoke at the Supreme Court during its 2022/2023 Legal Year and inauguration of the newly appointed 62 Senior Advocates.
He said the President Buhari-led administration, in line with its commitment to promoting the rule of law, had accorded top priority to the funding of the judiciary.
Malami said that the federal government had ensured a progressive budgetary allocation to the judiciary which had seen an increase from N73 billion in 2015 to over N130 billion in 2022.
He revealed that a further increased sum of N150 billion had been proposed for 2023.
“In addition to the foregoing, we have provided special intervention when the need arises, particularly in meeting the huge cost of running election tribunals,” he said.
Malami called for collective efforts from the judiciary to attain the desired levels of good governance and development, saying that law and development were interwoven.
He said that the positive changes in the judiciary would, by necessary implication, serve as precipitating factors for the much-needed developments in the national polity
The minister expressed optimism that the recent approval granted by President Buhari, in addition to an increase in the salaries and allowances of judicial officers, but also for conditions for their health, well-being and professional development, will usher in a new lease of life and impetus for the judiciary to operate maximally in a more beneficial and rewarding environment.
Malami said that the Federal Ministry of Justice was reviewing the National Policy on Justice to enhance stakeholders’ ability to tackle issues hindering the entire justice sector.
“Only recently, the Federal Executive Council approved the revised National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan (2022–2026). We have also recorded modest gains from the operationalization of the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022,” he said.
Malami explained that such recoveries running into billions in various currencies are being ploughed into funding critical infrastructural projects, such as the Abuja-Kano & Lagos-Ibadan Expressways and 2nd Niger Bridge, all under the Presidential Infrastructure.
He commended the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), under the leadership of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, for striving to sustain high standards in the profession by meticulously sieving through multiple applications to arrive at the 62 recipients. (GBN)
