No FCT Judge Will Live in Rented Apartment by 2027 — Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed that by 2027, no judge of the FCT High Court will be living in a rented apartment.

Wike made this known during the inauguration of the construction of new residential quarters for judges in Abuja, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister stated that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) had commenced the development of 40 housing units dedicated to judicial officers 20 for FCT High Court judges, 10 for Federal High Court judges, and 10 for Court of Appeal justices.

He explained that the project, which has been captured in the 2024/2025 FCT budget, is expected to be completed within the next 12 months, adding that the initiative would ensure that every FCT judge owns a permanent residence before 2027.

According to Wike, the decision to provide official residences for judicial officers aligns with the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to strengthen the judiciary and promote efficiency, independence, and integrity within the system.

He added that upon retirement, the houses would become the personal property of the judges who occupied them, as part of a long-term incentive for dedicated service.

“This government believes that the dignity of our judges must be protected. No FCT High Court judge will live in a rented apartment by 2027,” Wike said.

The minister also emphasized that adequate welfare for judges would translate into better dispensation of justice and stronger public confidence in the judiciary.

The initiative has been widely commended as a step toward addressing the accommodation challenges faced by judicial officers and promoting judicial independence in the Federal Capital Territory.