The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured that by the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term in office, no judge serving within the FCT will be living in rented accommodation.
Wike gave the assurance on Monday during the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 40 units of duplexes meant for heads of courts in Abuja.
According to the Minister, funding for the housing project is fully captured in the 2024/2025 budget of the FCT Administration, as proposed by President Tinubu, approved by the National Assembly, and signed into law by the President.
Providing details of the project, Wike explained that the 40 duplexes would be allocated as follows: 10 units to judges of the Court of Appeal, 10 units to judges of the Federal High Court, and 20 units to judges of the FCT High Court.
He further assured that the project would be completed within 12 months and officially commissioned by President Tinubu upon completion.
Clarifying the ownership terms, Wike said the houses would become the personal property of the judges upon retirement.
“I want to make it clear that what we are doing today is not just for the current heads of courts who will vacate office someday. As they retire, the property becomes theirs. This has the approval of Mr. President, which is why Certificates of Occupancy have already been issued in their names,” the Minister stated.