Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has threatened to institute legal proceedings against the Federal Government over the allocation of newly built luxury houses to judges in Abuja’s Katampe District, describing the move as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Falana made his position known in a video shared by News Central, where he questioned the legal basis for providing exclusive housing benefits to judges while other categories of public servants continue to face inadequate welfare and housing challenges. He argued that although judges deserve decent accommodation to perform their duties effectively, similar consideration should be extended to other public officers.
According to the senior lawyer, the policy violates the constitutional principle of equality before the law by granting special privileges to a select group of public officials. He maintained that the government cannot lawfully provide such exclusive benefits to one category of workers while neglecting others who also serve the nation.
Falana clarified that his objection was not to judges living in secure and comfortable residences but to what he described as unequal treatment within the public service. He warned that the matter would soon be challenged in court, insisting that “what is good for the goose is good for the gander.”
The controversy follows the Federal Government’s recent handover of newly completed houses to judicial officers as part of efforts to improve their welfare. While supporters of the initiative argue that better welfare enhances judicial independence, Falana believes the policy should be broadened to benefit other public servants if it is to comply with constitutional principles of fairness and equal treatment.
Post a Comment