Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The House of Representatives has proposed a bill seeking a five year tenure for the Chief Jusitice of Nigeria (CJN), President of the Court of Appeal to enhance effective judicial system in the country.
Others to be affected by the bill, if passed into law, include the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judges in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Grand Khadi of a Sharia Court of Appeal and President of Customary Court of Appeal.
This is against the present practice where heads of courts hold offices until they attain the retirement age or are removed from office.
The proposed legislation, which is part of the constitution alteration bills being considered by the House Committee on Constitution Review, is sponsored by the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi, Manu Soro.
It is titled: “A bill for an act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for tenured appointment of heads of courts at both the Federal and State judiciary,” (HB 1701).
Specifically, the bill is seeking the alteration of Section 29 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to include a new subsection.
The proposed subsection stipulates that “any judicial officer appointed as Chief Justice of Nigeria, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Judge of State, Grand-Khadi of Sharia Court of Appeal or President of Customary Court of Appeal of a State shall serve for a five-year non-renewable term and return to their previous role as judges or shall retire if retirement age is attained –whichever comes first–”
The bill, according to its explanatory memorandum, is tailored towards enhancing “service efficiency and motivation of officers, and to address overstay of heads of courts.”