Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has inaugurated the design and construction of 40 Judges’ Quarters in Abuja’s Katampe District. This initiative reflects the government’s commitment to improving living conditions for the judiciary and was launched during a ceremony attended by prominent figures in the judicial system.
Wike expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for endorsing the housing project, emphasizing that comfortable accommodations are vital for ensuring the independence and effective functioning of the judiciary. He also revealed that President Tinubu has approved plans to extend similar housing provisions to the industrial court as part of the administration’s “renewed hope agenda.”
With 70% of its $1 billion budget allocated for this project, the construction is expected to be completed within 15 months, a timeline that significantly exceeds typical budget allocations for similar initiatives. Improving the working conditions of judicial officers—through better salaries, allowances, and enhanced tenure security—is part of a broader effort to maintain judicial independence, according to Wike. He noted recent constitutional amendments, including raising the retirement age of judicial officers to 70, as evidence of this commitment.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, also highlighted the importance of providing judicial officers with conducive living environments, linking their well-being directly to their capacity to deliver justice impartially. She praised the initiative as a crucial step in addressing the basic housing needs of judges and supporting their mental and emotional health.
Kekere-Ekun expressed optimism that the project would be executed to high standards and within the specified timeframe, setting a positive precedent for future government initiatives aimed at enhancing the judiciary. The event concluded with the formal handover of certificates of occupancy to the heads of various courts, officially marking the commencement of the construction process.