Lawmakers Lift Ban on Employment

…Pass Judiciary Funds Management Bill into Law

By Abuchi Onwumelu

The Anambra State House of Assembly has passed a bill for a law to provide for the management of funds accruing to Anambra State Judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of the state to ensure accountability, transparency, effective and efficient utilization of the funds.

The House passed the bill during the last plenary. Fides reports that in accordance with the provisions of the bill, the Anambra State Judiciary was empowered to manage its Capital and Recurrent Expenditure, while its Board shall monitor and direct the manner in which funds in the Judiciary Accounts were applied for the services and administration of the Judiciary.

It also empowered them to ensure that funds in the Judiciary Accounts were applied in the Judiciary according to the monetary threshold approved by the State Accounts Allocation Committee, approve and award all contracts, procurements and services above twenty million Naira, among others.

In his submission at Committee of the Whole, the chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Hon Barr. Douglas Egbuna, noted that the bill would facilitate quick dispensation of Justice and enable the judiciary to discharge its duties without fear or favour.

After the bill was adopted clause-by-clause, the speaker of the house, Right Honourable Uche Okafor, read out the bill to the house, while the lawmakers supported it through a voice vote.

Also at plenary, the house passed another resolution lifting the ban it placed on employment and process of employment at the Anambra State International Cargo and Passenger Airport at Umueri and the Ministry of Justice.

It resolved that the state could now proceed with the employment of needed staff at the Airport and Ministry of Justice, provided due process was followed.

Reading the resolution, Honourable Okafor explained that the House took the step after due legislative oversight and appearance of the Commissioner for Works, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, before the house, where they pledged their commitment to applying due process in the employment.