Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the provision of residential houses for judges in Abuja, saying it is unrealistic to expect optimal performance from them without adequate welfare and decent accommodation.

Mr Wike spoke on Thursday after a routine inspection of the ongoing construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in Daki Biyu and the Judges’ Quarters in Katampe, Abuja.

The minister stressed that democracy cannot thrive without a strong and independent judiciary. He insisted that the presidential intervention projects were aimed at strengthening the justice system rather than offering undue privileges.

“You can’t talk about democracy without talking about the judiciary,” said Mr Wike. “You also can’t expect them to perform efficiently when they don’t have befitting places to stay. Even when funds are released to the judiciary, it is still the executive that provides those funds.”

Mr Wike said President Bola Tinubu had directed the FCT Administration to address accommodation challenges faced by judges, including improving their working environment.

According to the minister, the president has expressed particular concern about the welfare of the judiciary and the conditions under which judicial officers carry out their duties.

The former Rivers State governor argued that providing decent accommodation would reduce distractions and improve productivity among judges, noting that similar welfare packages exist for other arms of government.

“There is nothing you would do that critics will not criticise. Before now, people complained that judges had nowhere to stay to do their work effectively,” the minister said following the public’s criticism of the project.

“Now that the government is providing accommodation, they say it is an attempt to buy them. How many people can you buy?” the minister queried.

According to him, a Court of Appeal division with a separate administrative headquarters is about 85-90 per cent complete.

He added that 40 residential houses are being constructed for judges, comprising 20 for the FCT High Court, 10 for the Court of Appeal and 10 for the Federal High Court, while similar housing is planned for the National Industrial Court.

Mr Wike also said official residences, tagged “Houses of Courts,” are being built for heads of courts, including the president of the Court of Appeal, the president of the National Industrial Court, and the chief judges of the federal and FCT High Courts.

He, however, expressed optimism that the projects would be completed and handed over for inauguration by the president between June and July.