Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has distributed official vehicles to judicial officers in the state as part of efforts to strengthen the judiciary and improve the administration of justice.
Lawal, who disclosed this on Friday, said the vehicles were procured by his administration to support judicial officers in the discharge of their responsibilities and reinforce the independence of the judiciary.
The governor said the initiative reflected his administration’s commitment to responsible governance and the provision of an enabling environment for judicial officers to perform their duties effectively.
According to him, his administration has also invested heavily in the remodelling, construction and rehabilitation of court facilities across the state.
He listed some of the projects to include four Small Claims Courts, the Magistrate Court in Samaru, the State High Court, 10 Sharia Courts across various local government areas, Unguwar Gwaza Higher Sharia Court, Higher Sharia Court in Damba, as well as Federal High Courts 5 and 7.
Lawal said about 90 per cent of the court projects had been completed, adding that the investments were aimed at improving access to justice and creating conducive working environments for judicial officers.
The governor further disclosed that his administration had cleared the backlog of statutory allowances owed judicial officers for 2022 and 2023.
He said more than N600 million was expended to settle the outstanding accommodation, wardrobe, outfit, medical and furniture allowances.
Lawal urged the judicial officers to regard the vehicles as instruments of public service and use them responsibly in the discharge of their duties.
He charged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, impartiality and professionalism, stressing that public confidence in the judiciary depended largely on the conduct of judicial officers.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening institutions and ensuring effective and accessible justice for residents of Zamfara State.