* Bello, Niger gov


 By Pita Chib, Minna 

 The Niger state government has  released N30m  for the payment of ward robe allowances for judicial officers  who threatened to go on strike if nothing is done to their demands 

 The government also in collaboration with the state police Commissioner agreed that security personnel would be given to the magistrates and Sharia court judges.

 The Attorney General and  Commissioner for Justice, Mr Nasara Danmalam, made the steps taken by government to avert the strike known on Sunday  when he addressed a meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries of the Nigerian Bar Association from the North Central Zone in Minna.   

 Magistrates and Sharia court judges had in  petition last week gave the state government a 21 days ultimatum within which to improve the condition under which they worked or they would shun the courts indefinitely. The ultimatum will expire on the 21st of this month.

 He however said the ward robe allowances and security details to the judges would be enjoyed from this week.

 Danmalam who described the petition and ultimatum given the government as one of the challenges being faced by the ministry however said there was " no justification for the action" because the government had been attending to problems facing the judiciary promptly.

 He said the issue of vehicle and other demands were already being addressed expressing the hope that " they will see the sincerity of government by not going on strike".

 The AG also told the meeting that the budget of the ministry had been increased tremendously since the administration came into power which had enabled the ministry to discharge its functions effectively.

 He disclosed that special courts are to be established to try suspects as one of the ways to decongest the prisons,  adding that the courts would commence sitting in Kontagora  soonest. 

 State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Mohammed Ndayako, while addressing the meeting said the forum was organise to prepare the zone for the forthcoming national elections of the association and the Arewa lawyers meeting slated for Kaduna.

 Ndayako said the zone would be presenting a candidate for the position of the Secretary General of the NBA.