Falana-Led Coalition Demands Exclusion Of Judges From Management Of Judiciary Funds

*Lauds JUSUN On Strike, Calls For Transparency In Managing
Funds For The Judiciary
*Says NBA, JUSUN, To Put In Place A Transparency Mechanism

Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond has urged the Judicial
Staff Union of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association to put in
place a transparency mechanism that will exclude judges from
managing funds budgeted for the judiciary.

ASCAB, in a statement signed by its interim Chair, Femi Falana
(SAN), said such a mechanism will prevent judges from being
subjected to superintendence by legislative bodies and
investigation by anti-graft agencies.

The statement said this will also allow judges to concentrate on
the discharge of their core constitutional mandate of administering
justice in an atmosphere of independence and impartiality in line
with international best practices.

The body described past alleged mismanagement of public funds by
Chief Judges and Chief Registrars as “an embarrassment to the
judiciary”.

It read, “The ongoing industrial action by the Judicial Staff
Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is highly commendable. Since the strike is
geared towards the promotion of the independence of the judiciary,
it is fully supported by the entire members of the Alliance on
Surviving Covid19 and Beyond (ASCAB).

“Our support is anchored on the belief that the strike is meant
to actualise the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution
1999 (as amended), which require that any amount standing to the
credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the
Federal Government or State Government shall be paid directly to
the heads of the courts concerned.

“However, ASCAB has noted that in some states where limited
financial autonomy has been granted by the Executive, the fund
earmarked for the judiciary was alleged to have been diverted by
some heads of courts.

“Hence, in the recent past, some Chief Judges and Chief
Registrars have been investigated and indicted by the anti-graft
agencies for alleged mismanagement of public fund to the
embarrassment of the judiciary.

“It is therefore pertinent for the JUSUN and NBA to put in place
a transparency mechanism that will insulate judges from being
subjected to the management of the fund budgeted for the judiciary
so that the heads of courts are not involved in the award and
execution of contracts.

“Such a mechanism will prevent judges from being subjected to
superintendence by legislative bodies and investigation by
anti-graft agencies.

“It will allow judges to concentrate on the discharge of their
core constitutional mandate of administering justice in an
atmosphere of independence and impartiality in line with
international best practices.”

*Lauds JUSUN On Strike, Calls For Transparency In Managing
Funds For The Judiciary
*Says NBA, JUSUN, To Put In Place A Transparency Mechanism

Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond has urged the Judicial
Staff Union of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association to put in
place a transparency mechanism that will exclude judges from
managing funds budgeted for the judiciary.

ASCAB, in a statement signed by its interim Chair, Femi Falana
(SAN), said such a mechanism will prevent judges from being
subjected to superintendence by legislative bodies and
investigation by anti-graft agencies.

The statement said this will also allow judges to concentrate on
the discharge of their core constitutional mandate of administering
justice in an atmosphere of independence and impartiality in line
with international best practices.

The body described past alleged mismanagement of public funds by
Chief Judges and Chief Registrars as “an embarrassment to the
judiciary”.

It read, “The ongoing industrial action by the Judicial Staff
Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) is highly commendable. Since the strike is
geared towards the promotion of the independence of the judiciary,
it is fully supported by the entire members of the Alliance on
Surviving Covid19 and Beyond (ASCAB).

“Our support is anchored on the belief that the strike is meant
to actualise the relevant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution
1999 (as amended), which require that any amount standing to the
credit of the judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the
Federal Government or State Government shall be paid directly to
the heads of the courts concerned.

“However, ASCAB has noted that in some states where limited
financial autonomy has been granted by the Executive, the fund
earmarked for the judiciary was alleged to have been diverted by
some heads of courts.

“Hence, in the recent past, some Chief Judges and Chief
Registrars have been investigated and indicted by the anti-graft
agencies for alleged mismanagement of public fund to the
embarrassment of the judiciary.

“It is therefore pertinent for the JUSUN and NBA to put in place
a transparency mechanism that will insulate judges from being
subjected to the management of the fund budgeted for the judiciary
so that the heads of courts are not involved in the award and
execution of contracts.

“Such a mechanism will prevent judges from being subjected to
superintendence by legislative bodies and investigation by
anti-graft agencies.

“It will allow judges to concentrate on the discharge of their
core constitutional mandate of administering justice in an
atmosphere of independence and impartiality in line with
international best practices.”