AL-HAU24news

By Our Assembly Reporter

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has urged the Ministry of Justice to find a lasting solution to the continuous garnishing of the state government bank accounts which is becoming embarrassing to the state.

Hon Esson Mairiga Ambina, the Chairman House Committee on Judiciary made the call when the Ministry of Justice and other branches of the judiciary appeared before the committee on their 2023 budget performance today in Lafia.

Hon Esson who represents Lafia North constituency said that continuous garnishing of the state government account by court has affected the state negatively in the past.

He said the committee was not pleased that the ministry has over spent its 2023 budget, advising them to adhere strictly to their budgetary provisions.

Hon Esson urged the management of the judiciary to step up effort in its constitutional responsibilities of ensuring smooth and effective administration of justice system in the state.

He make a case for the recruitment of more lawyers in the State Counsel to be able to handle volumes of cases lying in various courts in the state.

Earlier, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Justice Isaac Edoh appreciated the committee for giving the judiciary maximum support to succeed

He assured of quick dispensation of justice in the state.

Also appearing before the committee was the State Judicial Service Commission where the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Barr Yahaya Yakubu Shafa said that Nasarawa State judiciary was ranked third in the adjudication of cases and other legal performances across the 36 states of the federation.

“Honourable members, Nasarawa state is third in the adjudication of cases in the federation,” he said

Barr. Shafa informed the committee that Nasarawa state judiciary is working hard to overtake Lagos and Ogun states in legal performances.

He appealed to the committee to support the 40% peculiar allowance to judicial staff to boost their morale, an appeal which the chairman of the committee Barr Esson Mairiga said will be given consideration in the 2024 budget.

Further to appear before the committee was the management of State High Court headed by Chief Registrar, Esther Mami Ejeh where she said that high courts have started migrating from analogue to electronic filing of court processes.

She said that plans are under way to deploy the technology to the densely populated Karu local government for quick and speedy administration of justice .

Appearing before the committee also are management of Customary Court of Appeal and that of Sharia Court of Appeal respectively.

The judiciary however solicited for the support and cooperation of the committee to achieve the passage of peculiar allowance in the 2024 budget, yet to be presented before the assembly.

They also appealed to the committee to assist them to address numerous challenges which includes inadequate releases of funds from the approved budget, staff welfare, digitizing the record keeping, digitizing the case filing process among others.

They promised to give the committee all the needed support and cooperation to reform the Justice System in the State.