President Bola Tinubu stated this week that kidnappers ought to be treated like terrorists as the country continues its efforts to eradicate terrorism, banditry, and criminality.
The President said that those who commit such heinous crimes should be considered terrorists, denouncing the abhorrent deeds carried out by kidnappers throughout the nation.
At a Ramadan dinner with members of the Federal judiciary, including Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola, the President made the declaration on Tuesday.
The President reaffirmed the government’s commitment to stopping banditry and declared that those who abduct children are cowards who cannot stand up to the strength of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
”We must treat kidnappers as terrorists. They are cowardly. They have been degraded. They look for soft targets. They go to schools and kidnap children and cause disaffection. We must treat them as terrorists in order to get rid of them, and I promise you that we will,” the President said at a dinner attended by serving and retired judicial officers, including Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen, two former Chief Justices of Nigeria.
Regarding the judicial officer salary review, the President promised that his administration would keep putting the required reforms into place to enhance the welfare and working circumstances of judicial officers.
“I acknowledge that one of the most underappreciated roles in government is that of the court. its progress toward improvement is sluggish, and they have yet to upgrade its documentation and equipment.”
”When you look at the career path of a judicial officer, they cannot practice the vocation for which they were trained after retirement.”
The President said, “While the law’s framers may have had their reasons, I see this differently and see this from a fair compensation angle that should benefit everyone.”
President Tinubu acknowledged the judiciary’s contribution to maintaining the integrity of the judicial branch of government and conveyed his gratitude for their committed service to the country.
The President said, “We will keep encouraging one another and ushering Nigeria into that glorious dawn.”
The President’s kindness in inviting judicial officers to a Ramadan dinner, his dedication to judicial reforms, and his efforts to enhance the welfare of judicial officers nationwide were all praised by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
“May the Lord keep blessing you and your leadership. Allow your spacecraft to gracefully land and berth. There are a lot of positive things in store for Nigerians, so we will keep praying for your administration,” he prayed.
Ariwoola praised the administration for accomplishing an important first—appointing all 21 justices to the Supreme Court—calling this an unparalleled achievement.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, thanked the President for sending the executive bill to the National Assembly with the title “Judicial Office Holders, Salaries and Allowances, etc., Bill 2024.”
Fagbemi emphasized the unchanging status of judges’ wages and benefits since 2007 and praised the President for his bravery, tenacity, and empathy in acting decisively.
“To do what the President did requires a man of enormous heart, resolve, and consideration. The judges received a raise of over 300.3%. Despite the fact that the National Assembly still has to approve the law, the President has fulfilled his own obligations.”
The Minister of Justice remarked, “In my brief tenure as Attorney-General, I have come to observe that you are very much interested in anything that concerns the judiciary, and I thank you for your abiding interest in the judiciary.”
