The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure, no judge serving in the FCT will be living in a rented apartment.
Wike made the statement in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of housing projects for the President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and FCT High Court, and the President of the National Industrial Court.
He said the initiative was part of President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare and performance of judicial officers in Nigeria.
Wike explained that he had urged the president to prioritise judicial welfare, stressing that “we can’t afford to continue to see judges living in rented houses.”
“Sometimes you don’t know the landlords of these houses; sometimes you don’t know their neighbours.
These judges preside over criminal or other serious matters, and of course, you never can tell what will happen.
Our judges, our judicial officers, you deserve the best, and I thank God that Mr President has made it a policy to see that during his tenure, the narrative is changed, and we’re happy,” he said.
The minister assured the heads of the courts that the housing units would be completed within 12 months, adding that Certificates of Ownership were already issued in their names to make the houses their property upon retirement.
He disclosed that 40 houses — 10 for Judges of the Court of Appeal, 10 for Federal High Court Judges, and 20 for Judges of the FCT High Court — would be completed before the end of the year.
Wike also assured the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Benedict Kanyip, that judges of the industrial court would benefit from the scheme.
FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a symbol of honour and institutional pride, saying it reflects a collective effort to strengthen justice and governance in the nation’s capital.
“This project is about honour, dignity, and institutional pride, providing befitting residences for our esteemed heads of courts whose wisdom and integrity uphold the rule of law in the country,” she said.
Justice Kanyip expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for approving the project in line with his administration’s commitment to judicial welfare and independence.
He noted that “like other public servants, judicial officers perform better when their personal security and mental well-being are assured.
This housing initiative will address these concerns and enable them to fully dedicate themselves to their judicial responsibilities.”
Kanyip further emphasised that housing for judicial officers was part of their emoluments as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Justice Husseni Yusuf, also commended Tinubu and Wike for their leadership, noting that their actions had reinforced justice as a pillar of national development.
“The prioritisation of purpose-built residences for heads of courts underscores a deep appreciation for the conditions under which justice is conceived, deliberated, and delivered.
The initiative is therefore not merely architectural; it is a strategic affirmation of the welfare, security, and independence of judicial officers,” he said.
(NAN)