My Elevation To CJN Shook The Judiciary — Justice Tanko Muhammad

* Financial bondage takes away judiciary’s independence —CJN

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, on Monday
revealed that the events that saw his ascension to his present
position shook the nation’s judiciary to its very foundation.

Although, Justice Muhammad didn’t mention the name of his
predecessor, Justice Walter Onnoghen, he went ahead to call for the
full enthronement of the rule of law in the land.

He also lent his voice to the raging debate over the
independence of the judiciary, even as the Nigerian Bar
Association, again, criticised the process of the removal of the
immediate-past CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The debate over the independence of the judiciary has deepened
in recent times following the circumstances surrounding the exit of
Onnogen, from office earlier in the year.

Speaking in Abuja at the special court session marking the
beginning of the new 2019/2020 legal year of the Supreme Court and
the inauguration of 38 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the CJN
said the Nigerian judiciary might be independent in conducting the
cases brought before it,but the independence had been lost to lack
of financial freedom.

He likened the state of the Nigerian judiciary’s independence to
a cow that is asked to graze freely but remains tied firmly to a
tree.

He said, “If you say that I am independent, but in a way,
whether I like it or not, I have to go cap in hand, asking for
funds to run my office, then I have completely lost my
independence.

“It is like saying a cow is free to graze about in the meadow
but at the same time, tying it firmly to a tree. Where is the
freedom?”

He said at the Supreme Court, which he described as “the busiest
and most hardworking” apex court in the world, was “totally
independent in the way we conduct our affairs, especially in our
judgments”.

He added, “We don’t pander to anybody’s whims and caprices.

“If there is any deity to be feared, it is the Almighty God.

“We will never be subservient to anybody, no matter his position
in the society.”

He, however, said the third arm of government remained in a
financial bondage.

He said, “Be that as it may, when we assess the judiciary from
the financial perspective, how free can we say we are?

“The annual budget of the judiciary is still a foul cry from
what it ought to be.

“The figure is either stagnated for a long period or it goes on
a progressive decline.”

He also complained about judges’ salaries.

He said, “I make bold to say that the salaries of judicial
officers in Nigeria are still far from an ideal package to take
home.
“Effort should be made by the relevant authorities to increase the
salary and also work out measures to improve the welfare package of
judicial officers, especially after retirement.”

Appealing to the federal and state governments, the CJN said, “I
am using this medium to appeal to governments at all levels to free
the judiciary from the financial bondage it has been subjected over
the years.”

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Aisha Buhari advocates for more Funding, Political Will
to end TB

First Lady of Nigeria and Global TB Ambassador, Dr. Aisha Buhari
has called for more funding to Fast track efforts to end
Tuberculosis. She made the call during the UN High Level Meeting on
Tuberculosis at the UN Headquarters, New York on Sunday, 22
September, 2019..

She challenged leaders to increase political Commitment and be
accountable to their promises of increasing resources and
supporting effective and sustainable partnerships to end TB.

She was represented at the meeting by Dr. Hajo Sani, Senior
Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria.

The meeting was aimed at promoting multi-sectoral Action to take
forward the Commitments made last year at the United Nations High
Level Meeting on Tuberculosis.

Mrs. Buhari made reference to the last meeting of African First
Ladies alongside the African Union General Assembly in Addis Ababa,
where she made it clear that TB should be integrated in the fight
against HIV/AIDS as that will harmonize plans and actions relating
to the two related killer diseases.

“As a Global TB Champion and Ambassador, I have used my position
as the First Lady to promote TB among stakeholders in different
sectors, with support from Stop TB Partnership Nigeria and working
with wives of state governors.”

She called on governments, United Nations agencies, development
partners, academic and research institutions, civil society, media,
celebrities, patients and survivors, private sector to close ranks
and ensure the implementation of the commitments made at the last
meeting.

Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros
Ghabreyesus in his speech delivered by Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, Deputy
Director-General, confirmed that successes are being recorded in
the fight against TB, but called on stakeholders to advance action
and accelerate progress made so far.

He spoke extensively on the Multisectoral Action Framework (MAF
-TB), which  aims to support effective accountability of
governments and all stakeholders, at global, regional and country
levels, in order to accelerate progress to end the tuberculosis
epidemic. The Framework, he further said is aligned fully
with the End TB Strategy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development.

He said now is the moment for action and the time to
deliver.

The meeting was jointly organized by the Russian Federation and
World Health Organization and was attended by UN agencies, civil
society representatives and funding institutions as well as
delegations from Russia, South Africa, Vietnam, Japan, Uganda,
Zambia, Chad, Oman and Barbuda and Nigeria.

Suleiman Haruna

Director of Information

to First Lady of Nigeria

State House

Abuja