Ajanah, who disclosed this while speaking at the flag-off of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, training for court Registrars and Secretaries at the state’s High Court complex in Lokoja, said Section 121(3) of the Constitution provided for financial autonomy for the Judiciary at all levels.
“It is only when section 121(3) of the Constitution is complied with that the state judiciaries may begin to occupy their rightful places in the country,” he said.
The chief judge explained that if the judiciary must be seen to lead the vanguard of deepening Nigeria’s democracy, staff welfare was cardinal to the administration of justice and only full financial autonomy can guarantee that.
“That is why it is vital to state again that financial autonomy of the judiciary, especially at the state level, cannot continue to be negotiated as this is constitutionally provided,” he said.
On ICT training, Ajanah said the judiciary through the National Judicial Commission, NJC, began implementation of the Nigerian Information Technology Policy in 2012.
He noted that three years down the line the state’s judiciary had been on gradual but steady implementation of contents of the policy with the intention to derive its entire objectives, adding that it now has a functional website.
“We have in this regard been able to gradually put in place the essential technical requirements to lay the foundation that is steadily leading us to our desired goal.
“We have installed in some of our courts audio recording devices for the purpose of data storage and minimisation of lengthy court proceedings in terms of note-taking as part of the process,” the chief judge added.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Registrar of the High court, Alhaji Yahaya Adamu, commended the Chief Judge for computerizing the judicial and administrative processes of the courts and for putting the state judiciary ahead of others in ICT development.
Adamu said an ICT Centre to be fitted with training facilities was under construction, adding that a Directorate of ICT saddled with the responsibility of managing the various ICT schemes had been established in the state judiciary.
The training was organised for staff in five batches with the first batch of 20 participants, kick-starting the programme.
