Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike on Tuesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to boost infrastructure in Abuja.
The Minister brushed off a recent criticism from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) as unconstructive.
Speaking during a courtesy visit from a delegation of the Body of Benchers, led by its new chairman, Albert Akpomudje, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Minister Wike addressed pointed remarks from the NBA chairman Afam Osigwe.
Osigwe had suggested that government-built housing for judges risked compromising judicial independence.
Minister Wike however dismissed the claim, arguing that providing residences and facilities enhances judges’ autonomy rather than undermining it.
“You cannot bring down your own house,” he said, questioning how executive funding for NBA activities by state governments hasn’t raised similar concerns.
“State governments have been funding the NBA, that did not compromise it. But if the same government builds houses for the judges, that means the judges are compromised?”
The FCT Minister urged Osigwe to use his position to advance judicial improvements, rather than criticize after the fact.
“You had the opportunity, what was your contribution?” Wike asked.
In response to the delegation’s requests, Minister Wike directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Yunana Dauda, to build an access road to the Body of Benchers’ annex, now nearing completion.
He promised handover of the annex and road inauguration by June, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
Akpomudje praised Minister Wike’s progress on FCT development and fulfillment of prior pledges to the judiciary.
