Tinubu Reaffirms Commitment to Strong, Transparent Judiciary at 2025 Judges’ Conference
At the opening of the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts, held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the Nigerian Judiciary, describing it as the stabilising force of the nation’s democracy.
Addressing judges from across the federation, the President commended the Judiciary for its historic role in safeguarding constitutional order and protecting citizens’ rights during periods of national uncertainty. He noted that the conference theme, “Building a Confident Judiciary,” was timely, given ongoing efforts to restore public trust in the justice system.
Tinubu acknowledged widespread concerns about delays in adjudication, limited access to justice, and questions of integrity within judicial processes. He stressed that such perceptions cannot be ignored, as public confidence remains the true measure of judicial legitimacy.
According to him, justice is not for the Bench or the Bar alone, but for the Nigerian people whose trust anchors national stability. He assured the Judiciary of the Executive’s support, while emphasising that all three arms of government must work in synergy despite their constitutional independence.
The President underscored that a Judiciary that is strong, efficient, and uncompromising in integrity is indispensable to Nigeria’s democracy and prosperity. He highlighted ongoing reforms, including:
– Improved working conditions and modernised infrastructure for courts.
– Digitisation of court processes and integrated case management systems.
– Deployment of secure judicial facilities to ensure faster and more transparent adjudication.
Tinubu stressed that infrastructure alone cannot deliver justice, describing judges as the “living custodians of justice” whose competence and character determine the moral strength of the Republic. He reaffirmed support for continuous judicial education through the NJI, insisting that training and intellectual renewal must remain central to judicial excellence.
Warning that no reform can succeed if integrity is compromised, the President declared that “justice must never be for sale.” He pledged to support the Judiciary in eliminating misconduct and strengthening discipline, noting that corruption within the justice system undermines democracy itself.
He urged judges to be bold and practical in their deliberations, proposing solutions to case backlogs, disciplinary challenges, and barriers to access for vulnerable citizens. Tinubu described the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man and the moral conscience of the nation, calling judges the architects of Nigeria’s democratic destiny and guardians of its moral compass.
Formally declaring the conference open, the President expressed confidence that its resolutions would help build a more courageous, transparent, and principled justice system, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to a Judiciary that upholds integrity and protects the rule of law.
