Kaduna judiciary expresses readiness to stand for citizens rights
Kaduna State judiciary says it is ready and willing to stand for the rights of citizens in the provision of access to justice without fear or favour.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Mohammed Bello, made the commitment on Wednesday in Kaduna at a public hearing on development of social protection policy in Kaduna State.
Bello spoke in a presentation on the role of judiciary in social protection, especially as it borders on citizens rights and access to justice.
He said that the national social protection policy provided a framework to promote justice, equity and inclusive productive growth.
The chief judge, represented by Chief Magistrate Hauwa Shehu, said it social protection policy was a transformative tool for addressing poverty, unemployment, social and economic vulnerabilities.
”The policy can equally address inequality, exclusion and other threats to sustainable development.
”I am here primarily as the head of the state judiciary and a stakeholder in the policy and the accompanying programs.
”Social protection is multi sectoral and a multi disciplinary approach that contributes to reduce poverty and work to achieve sustainable development,” he said.
Bello further said that the policy would harness available resources into investments in people as most valuable asset, to optimise human capital potentials.
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According to him, the state judiciary is ready, able and willing to stand for the rights of citizens and provide justice without fear or favour, affection or ill which is the oath every judicial officer takes.
He said that the citizens looked up to the judiciary to uphold their rights, and governments to the courts to interpret laws.
He noted that an interesting feature of the draft policy was provision of health service, psychosocial support and counseling to survivors of violence, child labour, abuse, rape and human trafficking.
The chief judge commended the government for establishing sexual assault referral centres and citizens rights desk at the ministry of justice, as well as Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centre.
Mrs Hafsat Baba, Commissioner, Human Services and Social Development, said that the state government had given social protection a strategic approach.
“We might also be seeing to be taking time in passing our social policies but we assure the world of implementing the smartest social policy in the country,” Baba said.
