The Anambra House of Assembly has passed the Judiciary Fund Management Bill to facilitate and strengthen implementation of financial autonomy for the state judiciary.
The bill entitled: “Anambra State Judiciary Fund Management/Financial Autonomy Bill, 2021” was passed after third reading on Tuesday.
The lawmakers at the Committee of the Whole House, took turns to scrutinise the 16-clause bill before its passage.
The Speaker, Mr Uche Okafor conducted a voice vote on each of the sections of the bill before its passage by the house.
Okafor said: “Haven considered the third reading of a bill for a Law to provide for management of funds accruing to the Anambra judiciary from the consolidated revenue funds of the state to ensure accountability transparency, effective utilisation of the funds and for other related matters, the bill is hereby passed.”
The speaker directed Clerk of the house, Mr Pius Udo to forward a clean copy of the bill to Gov. Willie Obiano for assent.
The bill stated that the state judiciary should manage its capital and recurrent expenditure in accordance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
It said there should be an establishment of the Judiciary Funds Management Board, headed by the Chief Judge, for efficient and prudent financial management of the judicial arm of government.
“The board shall monitor and direct the manner in which funds in the judiciary account are applied for the services and administration of the Anambra judiciary.
“The Chief Registrar shall be the accounting officer of the state judiciary and shall set up adequate mechanisms to enhance efficient management of the funds.
“The chief judge shall have the powers to regulate the implementation of the law.”
Also, at plenary, the Anambra State Mission School of Nursing and Midwifery amendment bill was read for the second time.
The bill was committed to the house committee on Health, headed by Dr Nnamdi Dike-Umeh.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari, through an Executive Order on May 23, 2020, granted full financial autonomy to the legislature and judiciary, the second and third arms of government.
The house adjourned sitting till Aug. 5 . (NAN)
