The member representing Etinan, Nsit Ibom, Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Barr. Onofiok Luke has advocated the need for the National Judicial Institute to consider the training of judicial officers in some areas of the economy like oil and gas as well as a good grasp of the PIA.
Barr. Luke in his goodwill message at the Opening Ceremony of the 2022 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Lower Courts held at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, pledged his continuous support to ensuring a well positioned, better equipped and independent judiciary in the country.
Identifying exposure of Judges to novel areas of jurisprudence as an idea that will strengthen the bench with requisite knowledge of cases they are expected to adjudicate on in the coming days, the federal lawmaker noted that such knowledge would boost productivity of the judiciary and made a case for enhanced welfare of judicial officers.
Luke who described the theme of this year’s conference “Enhancing the Role of the Judiciary in Nation Building.” as apt, given the role of judicial officers said the key issues that impact on nation building and weigh heavily on justice and citizens’ liberties are treated or handled by the lower courts, hence the need for stronger collaboration.
Highlighting some of the challenges faced by judges of the lower courts, Luke listed unavailability of official vehicle, security, poor remuneration, inconvenient and uncomfortable working environment as what every stakeholder must find solution to, if the judiciary must be given its pride of place.
The Etinan federal constituency representative listed the upward review of appropriation for the judiciary as his committee’s effort, but regretted their incapacitation to champion the cause of judges of the lower courts, while promising to engage the state governments on their welfare to enhance continual service of fair justice to all manner of people.
According to Luke, the judiciary is a crucial cornerstone that every democratic society especially in a developing country like ours depend on and gave the assurance that better days were still ahead of the nation’s judiciary.
