Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu , has said that contrary to widely held beliefs, Governors are not opposed to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judicial arm of government.
He said that his administration is committed to the implementation of the financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
Ikpeazu, who stated this while receiving the Forum of Abia State Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Branches led by the Chairman, Samuel Nwosu, in Umuahia, promised to direct the relevant authorities to work out modalities for the implementation of the financial autonomy.
He pledged that his administration would strive to support the Judiciary in its quest for autonomy, despite the hard times facing the country.
The Governor tasked the NBA to be realistic in their expectations because budgets are statements of financial aspiration while the current situation in Nigeria brings lots of uncertainty in financial issues.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum of Abia State NBA Branches and the Chairman of the NBA Ukwa Branch, Samuel Nwosu, disclosed 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 has led to the nationwide strike.
Nwosu lamented that the non implementation of financial autonomy has adversely affected the activities of the Judiciary in the country.
“The National Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association chose to stand with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria on this issue since it is both a constitutional provision and a democratic imperative.”
He requested the Governor to set in motion the process of implementing financial autonomy for the Judiciary in the State, stressing that it would be a historic move since successive administrations in the State failed to achieve it.
