The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his support for the judiciary saying the survival of democracy in Nigeria is dependent on the arm playing its role.
Wike made the assertion on Thursday when a delegation of Federal High Court judges, led by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.
Wike stressed the importance of the judiciary as an independent arm of government, and assured the judges that the FCT Administration would continue to provide the necessary support to enhance their operations in the territory.
“If there are other problems that you think the administration can help with, do not hesitate to let us solve them,” Wike added.
He also announced that the FCT Administration had included the building of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal in the supplementary budget, and that land would be allocated to Federal High Court judges in phases.
“Just yesterday, I went to the National Assembly to defend the supplementary budget and there we included the building of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal,” he said.
Wike pledged to provide infrastructure in areas where allocations had been made by his predecessors to encourage development, and added that the FCT Administration was open to resolving any other problems that the judiciary might be facing.
Justice Tsoho commended Wike for his support of the judiciary, and lamented the frequent postings and transfers of Federal High Court judges, which he said meant that they were often denied benefits that enhance the welfare of serving and retired judges and justices.
Other judges in attendance included Justices G. K. Olotu, B.F.N. Nyako, I.E. Ekwo, and D.U. Okorowo, as well as senior officials of the FCTA.
