The Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abia State branch, has advised the Abia State Government to ensure that dilapidated courtrooms and other deplorable facilities in the state’s judiciary are fixed.
The NBA gave the advice in Umuahia on Thursday during a public engagement organised by the Abia State Government to seek the needs of Abia citizens for the proposed 2027 Abia State budget.
The position of the NBA on its expectations for the Abia State 2027 budget was presented by its representative, Ikemefula Ijioma.
The NBA, which acknowledged some infrastructural interventions carried out by the state government in the judiciary sector so far, lamented that the roofs of some courtrooms in the state are currently in bad shape, disclosing that court proceedings, including the trial of important matters, are sometimes suspended in such facilities whenever it rains.
According to the NBA, the rehabilitation of the dilapidated facilities will provide a conducive environment for judges, lawyers, clients and those on trial, as well as support the speedy dispensation of justice in the state.
Another lawyer, Nduri Chibuike Eruba, also canvassed more support for the judiciary sector in Abia State.
Also speaking at the citizens’ engagement forum, Mrs Ihediwamma Gladys of Grassroots Community Development Initiative demanded that civil society organisations be allowed to monitor the implementation stages of Abia State’s annual budgets in order to ensure accountability and transparency.
In their own requests, traditional rulers in Abia State urged the state government to increase security presence around new school buildings in communities to protect the facilities from being vandalised or looted by criminals.
Responding to the demands of various groups, Abia State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Kingsley Anosike, said the citizens’ engagement programme was designed to collect the needs of Abia people before the 2027 budget is planned.
Anosike promised that the concerns raised by the Nigeria Bar Association, persons living with disabilities, civil society organisations and community leaders would be taken into consideration, subject to available resources.