The Senate on Tuesday mandated its joint committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Finance to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged non- payment of salaries and allowances of federal judges for four months.
The mandate followed the observation raised by Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, that federal judges have not been paid their salaries and allowances in the past four months.
Na’Allah, who described the alleged non -payment of judges as “worrisome and disturbing,” said it is the responsibility of the Senate to wade into the matter with a view to finding out the true position.
The Kebbi South lawmaker said the Senate should not turn blind eye to the issue in the interest of the judiciary and the country.
Urging the Senate to act fast to save the situation, Na’Allah said the committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters and Finance should be asked to go into the matter without further delay.
He said that everything should be done to ensure prompt payment of the judges’ salaries and allowances.
Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the plenary, said Na’Allah approached him with the information.
He noted that if the information is true, efforts should be made to pay the judges by government.
THE NATION
