Wike inaugurates housing project, assures judges of permanent residences by 2027

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured that by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in office, no judge serving in the FCT will be living in a rented apartment.

Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of housing projects for the President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judges of the Federal High Court and FCT High Court, as well as the President of the National Industrial Court.

He said the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers across the country.

“I told Mr President that we must make a difference in how we treat our judges. We can’t continue to see them living in rented houses. Sometimes, they don’t even know their landlords or neighbours, yet they preside over sensitive cases,” Wike said.

“Our judges deserve the best, and I thank God that the President has made it a policy to change this narrative during his tenure,” he added.

The minister disclosed that 40 housing units—10 for Justices of the Court of Appeal, 10 for Judges of the Federal High Court, and 20 for Judges of the FCT High Court—will be completed by the end of this year. He assured that the wider housing programme for heads of courts would be finished within 12 months.

According to Wike, the Certificates of Occupancy for the houses will be issued in the judges’ names, making them personal properties upon retirement.

He also promised the President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Benedict Kanyip, that similar housing provisions would soon be extended to judges of the Industrial Court.

FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a demonstration of collective commitment to strengthening the justice system in the nation’s capital.

“This project is about honour, dignity, and institutional pride—providing befitting residences for our esteemed heads of courts whose wisdom and integrity uphold the rule of law,” she said.

Justice Kanyip expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the project, saying adequate housing is vital to judicial efficiency and independence.

“Judicial officers perform better when their security and well-being are guaranteed. This initiative will help them focus fully on their responsibilities without fear or distraction,” he said, noting that judicial housing is recognised as part of judges’ entitlements under the 1999 Constitution.

Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Husseni Yusuf, also commended President Tinubu and Minister Wike for their commitment to justice sector reform and infrastructural development.

He said the construction of purpose-built residences for heads of courts is “not merely architectural but a strategic affirmation of judicial welfare, security, and independence—essential elements of a credible and efficient judiciary.”