Bayelsa Law Officers To Enjoy Housing, Vehicles Schemes

Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson says befitting
accommodation and official vehicles would be provided for Judges and
Magistrates in the state, to assist in the official discharge of their
constitutional duty.

Making the promise at the official signing of the State
Judiciary Financial Autonomy bill into law, the governor said judicial
officials deserve a better treatment, noting the sensitive nature of their
assignment.

In addition to the residential quarters, the Governor
disclosed that his administration has approved the construction of a multi-door
Court House which is aimed at enhancing the operations of the State Judiciary,
especially in the area of alternative dispute resolution.

According to him, availability of efficient judicial
services in the state will give fillip to government efforts at diversifying
the local economy.

“The economy that we are diversifying is such that we want
people who are coming to invest and live here to have confidence in our
Judiciary; not just the formal litigation side of it but also the alternative
ways of dispute resolution”.

To facilitate the prompt delivery of the official vehicles
to the judicial officials, the governor directed the State Commissioner for
Transport to expedite action on the procurement of the vehicles before the end
of the year, adding, “I believe that the honourable Commissioner for Transport
will get in touch with you before the end of today, because we also want to
provide befitting official vehicles for judges and magistrates in the state.

“I recall that the last time vehicles were given to the
affected officials was when I was the Attorney General and Commissioner for
Justice and that is quite some time”.

Responding, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Kate
Abiri commended the efforts of the governor, pointing out that the signing of
the bill commences the implementation of section 121, subsection 3 of the 1999
Constitution as amended.