In a move to combat the rising threat of kidnapping in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has declared kidnappers as terrorists, calling for them to be treated as such.
The President made this declaration on Tuesday at a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary, emphasizing the need to address the issue decisively.
Tinubu also pledged to continue implementing necessary reforms to improve the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers. He acknowledged the challenges faced by the judiciary, expressing his commitment to addressing the issue. “I recognize that the judiciary has one of the most unrewarded responsibilities. They are yet to modernize equipment and recordkeeping, and their progress towards improvement is slow,” the President stated.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, commended the President for his commitment to judicial reforms and improving the welfare of judicial officers. He expressed gratitude for the honour of hosting judicial officers to a Ramadan dinner and offered prayers for the success of the President’s administration.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, expressed gratitude to the President for forwarding the executive bill titled “Judicial Office Holders, Salaries and Allowances, etc, Bill 2024” to the National Assembly. He commended the President’s courage, determination, and compassion in taking decisive action to address the stagnant state of judges’ salaries and emoluments.
