Diri Commences Financial Autonomy Implementation For Bayelsa Judiciary – Chief Judge

 Diri Commences Financial Autonomy Implementation For Bayelsa Judiciary – Chief Judge

The Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Kate Abiri has re­vealed that Governor Douye Diri has started the implementation processes of granting financial autonomy to the judicial arm of the govern­ment in line with the country’s constitution.

Abiri made this known while declaring open the 2021 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, with the theme: “Ju­dicialisation of Politics in Ni­geria: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities.”

She disclosed that the gover­nor had instructed her to stop bringing memos to him for ap­proval of funds like members of the State Executive Council, saying he would ensure the ju­diciary receives its revenue as an arm of government.

Abiri lamented the ongo­ing national industrial action embarked upon by the Judi­ciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) demanding financial autonomy for the judiciary.

According to her, the judi­ciary workers’ strike, which commenced on April 6, had ad­versely affected the law courts and general administration of justice, especially litigations and litigants.

The Bayelsa Chief Judge said, “On a very, very cheery note, I want to also say that when the (state) Attorney-Gen­eral was making his goodwill message, he told us of the will­ingness of His Excellency (Gov­ernor Diri) to comply with the constitution.

“I wish to announce to us that he has already begun to comply with the constitution on the autonomy of the judicia­ry. He told me that, ‘look, I don’t want you to bring any memo to me like other commissioners will be doing. I don’t want it. I will send your money to you, particularly for capital (expen­diture), quarterly, and for the overhead, monthly, which is the usual thing.’ And this, he promised to do in February.

“The thing is that this (ju­diciary workers) nationwide strike, you can see, is affecting the federal courts that have not been affected concerning autonomy. So, it is like this is a sympathy strike by the Bayel­sa State Judiciary, among other states that are not complying.

“So, we pray that it will come to an end soon. There are talks ongoing concerning it. By the very special grace of God, when His Excellency the President established the task force that looked into the implementation of the autonomy, I was one of the members in that task force.”