NASS Joint Committee Rejects Judiciary Budget, Summons Minister for Urgent Hearing

The joint committee of the National Assembly (NASS), comprising the Senate and House of Representatives, unanimously rejected the proposed judiciary budget during a session held on Wednesday.

Concerns over the inadequate budgetary allocation to the Nigerian judiciary, which could potentially compromise its independence and operational efficiency, prompted the NASS committee’s firm stance.

As a response to this rejection, the committee has summoned the Minister of National Planning and Director-General of the Budget Office, giving them a 24-hour ultimatum to appear before the committee. The purpose of this summons is to address the perceived shortcomings in the judiciary budget and seek explanations for the allocations provided.

The allocated funds for the judiciary in the proposed 2024 budget stand at N5.3 billion for capital expenditure and N8.8 billion for recurrent expenditure. Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, highlighted the necessity of additional funding during his recent appearance before the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Mr. Fagbemi emphasized the pivotal role of the Ministry in advancing the justice sector, aligning it with the objectives of the current administration’s roadmap. The unfolding developments in the NASS committee’s decision and the subsequent summons of the minister signal a critical juncture in the ongoing budgetary deliberations.