Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom on Thursday reiterated his pledge to support the financial autonomy of the judiciary.
Ortom stated this during a swearing-in ceremony of three new judges of the high court at the new banquet hall of the state government house Makurdi.
The governor while charging the new judges to be above board in the dispensation of justice, expressed that the financial autonomy for the judiciary would allow smooth and effective operations of the Judiciary in a democratic setting.
Ortom said, “I wish to use this occasion to again stress my total support not only for the financial Autonomy but complete Autonomy for the Judiciary.
“To this end, I wish to recommend that all entitlements due to the Judiciary should be deducted at source from the Federation Accounts and remitted directly to the Heads of Courts for onward payment to Judicial Staff.
“Specifically, all matters of welfare of Judicial Staff Salary, Pension and Gratuity should henceforth be handled by the National Judicial Council.
“This I believe has become necessary for the smooth and effective operations of the Judiciary in a democratic setting.”
The governor charged the new judges to shun the temptation to pervert justice because of monetary or other inducements and not to allow sentiments to prevent them from taking fair, firm and objective decisions in all matters before the Courts.
Ortom noted that his administration had assented to the Benue state Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2021 to strengthen his policy of non-interference of Government in the affairs of the Judiciary.
He, however, lamented a deficit in infrastructure in the state judiciary such as poor courtroom facilities, dilapidated residential accommodation for judges and others said, his government had been able to renovate and furnish judges’ chambers at high and lower courts.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News