*Govt Inaugurates Judiciary Financial Autonomy C’ttee, Sets 19 October Deadline For Report
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Enugu State Human Capital Development Council has held its second stakeholders workshop with theme ‘Joint review of initial draft of HCD plan of action’.
The workshop which took place at Vee – ai – pee Events Place, New Haven, Enugu, brought together stakeholders from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and labour unions in the State .
In his opening speech, Managing Director (MD), Enugu State Investment Development Authority/State focal person of Enugu State Human Capital Development (HCD) Council, Dr. Kenechukwu Nnamani, explained that HCD is a program or investment initiated by the government to develop its citizens through various sectors such as education, health, empowerment and labour.
He pointed out that HDC is an evidence data-based project and also a technical undertaking that requires the expertise of the handpicked participants, urging them to make meaningful and valuable contributions to achieve the workshop’s aim.
He applauded the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah, for investing in severa projects geared towards human capital development.
Dr. Nnamani listed the newly reconstructed Presidential Hotel that has employed many people, the farm estate and the 260 Green Smart Schools in the 17 LGAs of Enugu State that recruited teachers and other staff,as evidence that Mbah is working hard.
Speaking with newsmen, a member of the Council, Lucy Harry Enwu, said that HDC is a program targeted at human beings to ensure everything goes well in the state and nation at large.
According to her, “The program is to gather people who are concerned with thematic area involving human capital development. We have the health sector, the education sector and the workforce.
“We are here to ensure that there are programs on ground to make sure that we have the hospital, health care centers and qualified personnel to attend to people when they have health related issues.
“We are also gathering data to ensure that we have enough schools and learning centers for our young ones. Also we are trying to include in our curriculum, certain skills like tailoring, plumbing and others. It is not only classroom learning but exponential learning in the state.
“We want to ensure that even when people have acquired education, they will become employable. They must not wait for white collar jobs. They can start up something.”
The Director, Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) at the State Ministry of Education, Michael Mbah, who was also a participant, noted that the current administration of Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah has invested heavily in education.
He disclosed that Gov. Mbah allocated over 32 percent of the extant budget to education, constructing 260 Smart Schools, recruiting of qualified teachers, training and retraining of teachers in the process, stressing that it was all geared toward human capital development.
The workshop featured thematic areas, breakout session, feedback and presentation from the participants.
…Inaugurates Judiciary Financial Autonomy C’ttee, Sets 19 October Deadline For Report
In a related development, the State Government has inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee to develop a framework for implementing financial autonomy for the state’s judiciary, with the committee mandated to submit its final report for presentation by 12 noon on 19 October, 2026.
The committee was inaugurated on Wednesday by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Chidiebere Onyia, on behalf of Gov. Mbah, pursuant to the agreement reached between the state government and the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on 17 September, 2025.
According to Onyia, the primary purpose of the committee is to develop and recommend a comprehensive, structured, transparent and sustainable framework for the effective implementation of financial autonomy for the State Judiciary.
“The primary purpose of the Committee is to develop and recommend a comprehensive, structured, transparent, and sustainable framework for the effective implementation of judicial financial autonomy for the Enugu State Judiciary,” he said.
He added that the committee would develop a comprehensive action plan, identify and resolve outstanding administrative, financial, accounting and operational issues, facilitate the implementation of the Consolidated Judicial Salary Structure (CONJUS) for eligible staff, and develop an implementation roadmap specifying actions, responsible institutions and expected outcomes.
The committee’s terms of reference include reviewing the status of judicial financial autonomy across the state’s judiciary and the federal judiciary, examining relevant best practices and institutional arrangements, and identifying models suitable for adaptation in Enugu State.
The committee is further mandated to collate, reconcile and verify government’s financial obligations to the judiciary and its staff, including outstanding salaries, allowances, arrears and other employment entitlements.
It will verify the legal basis for such payments and establish an accurate database of eligible staff through the review of staff establishment, nominal rolls, payroll and personnel records.
It will also assess the financial implications of CONJUS, including annual and monthly personnel costs and verified arrears, and develop an implementation roadmap specifying key actions, responsible institutions and expected outcomes.
The committee is chaired by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Osinachi Nnajieze, and includes the Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr Felix Nnamani; Special Adviser on Labour Union Matters and Associations, Hon. Chukwudi Ezinwa; Special Adviser on Labour and Productivity, Robinson O. Odo; Mr Raymond Aneke of the Office of the Accountant-General; and Mr Ken Chukwuegbo, Principal Secretary to the Governor.
Other members are Chief Magistrate Kingsley Eze, Chief Registrar, Enugu State High Court; Chief Magistrate Sparkle Iheobuna, Chief Registrar, Customary Court of Appeal; Comrade Chinedu Eze, National Organizing Secretary, JUSUN; Comrade Sampson Ifedimma, Chairman, Enugu State JUSUN; Magistrate C.K.C. Idu, State Chairman, Magistrate Association of Enugu State; Dr Comrade Chinedu Mbah, National Vice-President, JUSUN South East; Comrade Jonas Onyia, State Secretary, JUSUN; and Comrade Ani Emeka Samuel, Assistant Secretary, Enugu State JUSUN.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee and Attorney-General and State Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, said the committee had addressed the outstanding issues and made recommendations on the financial implications for the state.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the inauguration, the National Vice President of Judiciary Staff Union (South East Zone), Mr Chinedu Eze, said the union’s role was to provide relevant information that would assist the committee in carrying out its assignment.
He stressed that judicial financial autonomy was a constitutional provision rather than a favour, saying its realisation would strengthen the Judiciary’s ability to discharge its statutory responsibilities.
