Chief Justice List Factors For Industrial Harmony
By Amina Abdullahi Girbo
HOTPEN – Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has said that a virile, functional, well-funded and independent labour and industrial court is panacea to incessant industrial actions.
This, he said, is in line with his vision of bringing justice delivery to the door steps of the people at minimal cost, inconvenience and delay, saying the judiciary under his watch has achieved giant strides in the areas of facilities and infrastructural development.
Justice Muhammad was speaking Thursday in Bauchi at the foundation laying ceremony of the Bauchi Judicial division of the National Industrial Court Complex where he said that the event is not lost on stakeholders in the justice, labour, employment and industrial relations sectors of our national life.
CJN stated, “The ceremony we are holding today has, without any modicum of doubt, raised the stake and inched us closer to realistic attainment of our goal which is to bring justice delivery to the doorsteps of our people”.
Justice Ibrahim Muhammad explained that when the edifice is completed, it will no longer be necessary for lawyers and litigants to travel long distances in order to prosecute their cases, stressing “We are more than ever ready to deliver within the constitutional mandate of the judiciary”.
He assured of the judiciary continued support to the courts in improving the working conditions of judges and members of staff of various courts, and ensure that employment, labour and industrial relations and workplace related disputes are resolved quickly and without hurting existing working relationships.
Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad also expressed belief that the availability of a forum for quick, effective and efficient resolution of disputes will attract the confidence of investors in Bauchi state.
Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has earlier said that the Industrial Court is saddled with the responsibility of settling disputes between the employers and employees, as well as promote industrial harmony, and enhance relationship between them.
Represented by his deputy, Senator Baba Salihu Tela, the governor commended the CJN and the President of the Industrial Court for their efforts in ensuring the construction of the permanent edifice of the Court in Bauchi which would be conducive for lawyers and litigants to prosecute their cases.
Also speaking, the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip said that the expansion of the court to Bauchi followed the cooperation and assistance of the state government, without which it would be difficult to actualize the vision of bringing justice.