The House of Representatives has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, to release the funds appropriated for the judiciary in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

At the plenary on Tuesday, the House accused the minister of refusing to release funds to the judiciary, warning that the development might prevent the arm of government from carrying out its constitutional duties.

The allegation was made in a motion moved by Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Judiciary, Mr Aminu Shehu-Shagari, which was unanimously adopted by the lawmakers.

Shehu-Shagari, in the motion, said the several bodies in the judiciary lamented the paucity of funds during a recent oversight visit to them by the committee.

Consequently, the House resolved to “urge the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, to forthwith direct the Minister of Finance to comply with Section 81(3) of the 1999 Constitution and the 2018 Appropriation Act, and release to the National Judicial Council all the outstanding funds standing to the credit of the judiciary.”

The lawmakers also mandated the Committees on Federal Judiciary, Federal Capital Territory Judiciary, and Finance to ensure compliance and report back to the House within one week. – Punch

– Nov. 27, 2018 @ 16:36 GMT |