Barr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has addressed recent criticisms regarding the construction of housing for judges in Abuja, refuting claims that the project is politically motivated or aimed at swaying the judiciary.
According to Wike, the housing initiative is an integral part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader policy to enhance judicial welfare and promote independence.
In a media briefing on Wednesday, Wike outlined that the housing project has been incorporated into the 2024 federal budget with full legislative approval, underscoring that the government’s aim is to provide judges with secure, government-owned housing to eliminate any potential for external influence or security risks associated with private accommodations. “President Tinubu asked, ‘Where are the judges living?’ He emphasized that judges without stable homes could be subject to undue political pressure,” Wike explained. “To ensure judicial independence, he mandated the construction of housing for them.” He added that his role as minister is to implement policies that are aligned with the President’s vision and that have received Federal Executive Council and National Assembly approval.
Reflecting on his past as governor of Rivers State, where he similarly supported the judiciary with housing projects, Wike argued that these measures reinforce, rather than compromise, judicial integrity. He called on members of the legal community to see the initiative as a commitment to judicial welfare and independence, adding that similar projects have been positively received in the past.
The Abuja housing initiative has bipartisan support and represents the government’s commitment to reinforcing judicial welfare across Nigeria, Wike stressed. His clarification serves to dispel any misgivings about the project, presenting it as a federal policy designed to safeguard judicial independence and integrity, rather than as a political maneuver.