Bill For Autonomy Of State Judiciary And Establishment Of State Judicial Council Passes Second Reading At House Of Reps

*Approve N199.240bn 2020 FCT Budget

A Bill seeking to grant autonomy to State Judiciary and also establish State Judicial Councils moved a step further to becoming law following its passage through second reading at the House of Representatives Tuesday.

Specifically, the bill is seeking to alter the relevant provisions in the 1999 constitution and provide for the legal intstruments, financial and administrative independence of State judiciary.

This was even as the House in plenary approved a total sum of N199.240 billion 2020 statutory budget for the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

The State Judiciary bill is being sponsored by Hon. Abbas Tajudeen from Kaduna State.

Its long title is “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Provide the Legal Framework for the Financial and Administrative Independence of State Judiciary, to Establish State Judicial Council which shall be responsible for the Appointment, Promotion and Discipline of Judicial Officers in State Courts and Judicial Bodies and disburse Money standing to the Credit of the State Judiciary or Money Appropriated to the State Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1062)”.

Leading the debate, Abbas said granting autonomy to the State judiciary would promote the rule of law and extricate it from political control and interferences.

The bill was overwhelmingly supported by members when put to voice vote.

In the same vein, the House at the Committee of Supply passed the budget of the FCT for the 2022 fiscal year.

The Chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Rep. Abdullahi Garba who presented the budget for consideration had urged the House to “consider the report of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory on a bill for an Act to Authorise the issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Statutory Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Account, the total sum of N199.240, 53, 350.”

Of the amount, N63,620,646,865.00 only, is for Personnel Costs.

Also, the sum of N55,393,961,085.00 only is for Overhead Costs while the balance of N80,225,923,400.00 only is for Capital Projects for the service of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.