By Omon-Julius Onabu
Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has signed the Judiciary Autonomy Bill into law as the State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro, commended both the governor and legislature for the speedy process culminating in the signing of the bill.
Titled, ‘The Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2019’, the law provides for the management of funds accruing to the state judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund of Delta State.
Section 6 of the Law provides that the Delta State Judiciary shall have the power to manage its Capital and Recurrent Expenditure in accordance with the provisions of the Law.
However, the law comes into force on 23rd day of January, 2020.
Reacting to the development, the State Chief Judge, described the action of the Governor Okowa as a bold and laudable step towards granting the judiciary the much-desired autonomy despite the challenges that attended the legislative process.
While lauding the Delta State House of Assembly for ensuring the speedy passage of the Bill, he said that autonomy would enhance speedy dispensation of justice in the state, improve work conditions and facilitate development of infrastructure.
Justice Umukoro gave assurance that “the judiciary would live up to its constitutional responsibility and ensure prudent management of funds accruing to it,” saying that with the assent to the bill, Governor Okowa had restated his unalloyed commitment to the growth and development of the Judiciary.
He assured of the fostering of the existing level of cordiality and harmonious relationship between the Executive and Legislature and the Judiciary in Delta State.
