LAGOS CJ PLEDGES BETTER DEAL FOR JUDICIARY

Federal High Courts begin vacation
THE Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande, has promised to pay greater attention to the welfare of judges, magistrates and other judicial workers in the coming year, enjoining them to cooperate with her administration.

However, the Federal High Court will today begin its Christmas and new year vacation.

'I want to assure you that in the coming year, we hope to surpass our records by doing more to ensure your welfare and comfort. All we require from you is your support and cooperation,' she said.

Speaking at the end of year meeting with judges, magistrates and other judicial officers, Akande recalled that her administration introduced welfare programmes as an agenda for incentive and transformation in the state judiciary.

She said: 'As noted in my inaugural address and at several public fora, top of my priorities has been to ensure adequate welfare of all members of staff of the Lagos State Judiciary, of which the Magistracy occupies a prime position.

'In pursuant of this objective, I have since my assumption of office demonstrated more commitment to tackling some of the identified challenges in this regard with a view to ensuring that the wheel of justice is not unduly clogged, especially at the lower Bench of the State Judiciary.'

While thanking the judicial officers for their support and co-operation in the last one year, she assured them that the coming year would be a better one with their continued support, cooperation and loyalty.

According to her, the state judiciary has made some modest achievements in the past one year. They include administrative restructuring, the establishment of the legal unit of the judiciary to tackle cases involving the state judiciary, establishment of valuation unit in the probate division, upgrading of infrastructure in courts across the state, procurement and distribution of office furniture to all magistrate courts as well as member of staff welfare and training within and outside the country.

Akande reiterated the need for all members of the Bench to exhibit and maintain a high sense of discipline and responsibility in line with the ethics of their profession, adding that the public is now watching their activities more than ever before.

Meanwhile, in a statement made available to The Guardian yesterday by the Federal High Court's Chief Registrar, Mr. Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, the vacation will end on Friday, January 7, 2011.

While wishing litigants, workers and counsel merry Christmas and prosperous new year, he urged litigants and counsel within and outside the country to take note of the date.