The outgoing President of the National Industrial Court, NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, lamented that 10,000 industrial cases were currently pending before the courts nationwide.
Justice Adejumo also said about N150 billion was required to put the judicial sector in proper perspective in order to deliver its task effectively.
This is as President Muhammadu Buhari Monday appealed to the legislature and the judiciary to collaborate with the executive to ensure the rights of Nigerians were safeguarded.
Speaking while commissioning the National Industrial Court annex in Abuja, Buhari pledged that his administration would continue to adequately fund the judiciary to enable it discharge its responsibilities.
He said: ‘‘You will all recall that in 2014, the entire budgetary allocation to the judiciary was N68 billion. Today, the judiciary budgetary allocation has gone up to N100 billion. Rest assured that we shall continue to adequately fund the judiciary to ensure it is enabled to discharge its responsibilities.’’
The President appealed to the three arms of government to continue collaborative partnership to ensure that policies, programmes and projects of this administration positively impacted the lives of Nigerians.
‘‘Simply put, all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity, religion and politics, deserve peaceful and prosperous lives. Where these basic rights are trampled upon, Nigerians deserve fair justice delivery.
‘‘It is, therefore, our collective duty to work collaboratively to ensure that such rights are safeguarded,” the President said.
Congratulating the President of the Court on his retirement and meritorious service to the country, the President said Justice Adejumo’s numerous contributions were well known and appreciated.
‘‘I am confident his legacy will have a positive impact on those who follow him,’’ President Buhari said.
Speaking on the mandate of the court, the President recalled that it was established as a specialised a court to adjudicate on disputes arising from and relating to labour, industrial and employment matters.
‘‘Indeed, it is the court in Nigeria that is constitutionally mandated to perform these functions. Thus, the performance of this court directly impacts Nigeria’s ease of doing business indices,’’ he said.
He noted that the completion of the Annex building would further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of justice delivery by the court.
‘‘Furthermore, the socio-economic impact of this court cannot be downplayed as it also provides the platform for employees, retirees as well as the dependents of deceased employees to find justice when treated unfairly,’’ he added.
The NIC outgoing President, Justice Adejumo in his valedictory remarks, noted that of the 10,000 industrial cases currently pending before the court nationwide, only 700 had been successfully concluded, with only 33 Justices of 1,200 nationwide to preside over related cases.
He argued that if there was adequate funding, the judiciary could engage more justices that will culminate in speedy dispensation of justice in the country.
