By Sandra Ugwu 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in office, no judge of the FCT High Court will still be living in rented accommodation.

Wike gave this assurance on Monday at the flag-off ceremony for the design and construction of official residences for the Heads of Courts in the FCT. He said the initiative is part of President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare and dignity of judicial officers.

“Before the completion of Mr. President’s first tenure, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in a rented apartment,” Wike declared. “I’m referring specifically to the FCT High Court, not the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court.”

This latest housing project follows the earlier commencement of new magistrate courts in Jabi in September 2025, and the ongoing construction of 40 judges’ quarters in Katampe District, which began in November 2024.

Wike maintained that providing accommodation for judicial officers does not amount to executive interference, explaining that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has the responsibility to provide public infrastructure, including judicial facilities, in the capital.

The minister further revealed that the new homes for the Heads of Courts—including the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judges of the Federal and FCT High Courts, and the Judge of the National Industrial Court—will become the personal property of the occupants upon their retirement.

“This initiative is not temporary,” he said. “Once the heads of courts retire, the houses become theirs. This is the directive of Mr. President, and that’s why the Seal of Oaths has been issued in their names.”

In his remarks, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), commended the project, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening judicial independence and institutional integrity.

“The provision of secure and befitting accommodation for heads of courts enhances their operational independence, personal security, and institutional dignity,” Fagbemi said. “When such basic needs are taken care of, the temptation of corruption is greatly reduced.”

He praised President Tinubu and Minister Wike for prioritizing judicial welfare and institutional development, noting that the initiative reflects the administration’s broader agenda of governance reforms and infrastructure renewal.

The FCT Administration’s commitment to ending the era of rented accommodation for judges marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s judicial welfare system and reinforces the Tinubu government’s promise to uphold the rule of law through improved working and living conditions for judicial officers.