Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu says his administration is committed to the implementation of the financial autonomy for the Judiciary.
The Governor stated this when he received in audience the Forum of Abia State Nigerian Bar Association Chapters led by the Chairman, Samuel Nwosu Esq at the Government House, Umuahia.
He promised to direct the relevant authorities to work out modalities for the implementation while admitting that these are not easy times for the country.
The Governor pledged that his administration will thrive to support the Judiciary in its quest for autonomy.
Governor Ikpeazu disagreed with the assertion that the Governors were frustrating the move for financial independence of the Judiciary.
He used the medium to commend the forum for going about the agitation peacefully and maturely.
The Governor however told the delegation to be realistic in their expectations because budgets are statements of financial aspiration and the current situation in Nigeria today brings lots of uncertainty in financial issues especially as it relates to government income.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Forum of Abia State NBA Chapters and the Chairman of the NBA Ukwa Branch, Samuel Nwosu Esq who said their visit was to draw the Governor’s attention to the non implementation of financial autonomy of the Judiciary across the 36 States of the country which led to the nationwide strike regretted that non implementation of the financial autonomy has adversely affected the activities of the Judiciary.
According to him, the National Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association chose to stand with the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria on this issue since it’s both a constitutional provision and a democratic imperative.
He requested the Governor to set in motion the process of implementing financial autonomy for the Judiciary in the State noting that implementing it would be historic since successive administrations in the State have not done it.
Deputy Governor ,
Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, Honorable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uche Ihediwa Esq, Honorable Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, State Head of Service, Sir Onyi Wamah, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Professor ACB Agbazuere, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Uzoamaka Uche Ikonne were part of the event while NBA Chairmen and Secretaries from the Bar branches of Aba, Isiala Ngwa, Ukwa and Ohafia were also at the event.
