In a bid to enhance performance and meet the objectives outlined in the administration’s roadmap for the justice sector, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, has advocated for increased funding for the Ministry of Justice in 2024.
Mr. Fagbemi conveyed this message on Monday in Abuja during a review of the 2023 budget performance of the Ministry, where he also defended the proposed 2024 budget before the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Highlighting the challenges faced in the current fiscal year, he revealed that the Ministry had been allocated N3.3 billion for capital expenditure and N4.6 billion for recurrent expenditure in 2023.
However, he expressed concern that, with less than 30 days remaining in 2023, the Ministry had only received releases of N617 million for capital expenditure and N2.734 billion for recurrent expenditure, significantly impacting its operations.
To address these challenges and achieve a transformative shift in the coming year, the Attorney-General disclosed that the Ministry has earmarked N5.3 billion for capital expenditure and N8.8 billion for recurrent expenditure in the 2024 budget. He emphasized the importance of this increased budget allocation for the Ministry to effectively contribute to legal and judicial reforms, which are prioritized areas in the President’s eight-point agenda.
Mr. Fagbemi appealed to the Senate Committee on Judiciary to support the Ministry’s funding requirements, highlighting that these resources are fundamental to driving the government’s initiatives in the justice sector. He specifically mentioned the need for chartering aircraft to ensure the security and confidence of judicial officers and the allocation of considerable resources for the provision and upgrading of infrastructural facilities at trial venues.
