Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State says his administration is committed to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
Ikpeazu stated this when he received in audience the Forum of Abia State Nigerian Bar Association Chapters, led by Samuel Nwosu, at the Government House, Umuahia.
He promised to direct the relevant authorities to work out modalities for the implementation.
While admitting that these are not easy times for the country, the governor pledged that his administration would strive to support the judiciary in its quest for autonomy.
He, however, disagreed with the assertion that the governors were frustrating the move for financial independence of the judiciary and commend the forum for going about their agitation peacefully and maturely.
Ikpeazu told the delegation to be realistic in their expectations as budgets are statements of financial aspiration, noting that the current situation in Nigeria brings lots of uncertainty in financial issues, especially as it relates to government income.
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Samuel Nwosu, chairman, Forum of Abia State NBA Chapters, explained that their visit was to draw the governor’s attention to the non-implementation of financial autonomy of the judiciary across the 36 states of the country, which led to the nationwide strike.
Nwosu, who is also chairman, Ukwa branch of NBA, regretted that non-implementation of the financial autonomy has adversely affected the activities of the judiciary.
According to him, the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association chose to stand with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria on the issue since it is both a constitutional provision and a democratic imperative.
He appealed to the governor to set in motion the process of implementing financial autonomy for the judiciary in the state, noting that implementing it would be historic since successive administrations in the state have not done it.
