As the new legal year approaches, the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, has promised litigants and counsels approaching courts in Kogi State that the judiciary would provide the required enablement for a robust adjudication to their satisfaction within the ambit of the law even as he said too that the welfare of judiciary workers remains paramount to the judiciary leadership and the state government.
Justice Majebi disclosed this when declaring open a 2-day retreat for the management staff of the High Court of Justice and the Judicial Service Commission of the state held in Abuja during the weekend. The retreat was aimed at adequately preparing the management of the two key institutions of the judiciary for the tasks of the new legal year ahead.
The CJ who hinted that the assurances of improvement on judiciary’s fortunes in the coming years by the Governor of the state, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, was the stimulus for his readiness to confront the challenges of the forthcoming legal year frontally, also stated that the welfare of judiciary workers would continue to take center stage because of the roles they play. He hinted that members of the management staff were the initial target of a continuous staff motivational scheme that is beginning with the new legal year that would be used to further consolidate on the gains of the outgone legal year.
While asking the management to brace up for an enthralling legal year, he disclosed that the intention of the retreat with the theme, “Prospects of Effective Justice Administration In Kogi State Through Staff Diligence” was to reflect on the impact of the institution in service delivery and staff devotion to satisfying court users. He therefore encouraged the management members to work towards securing the maximum input and dedication of their respective staff, absence of which he said, would negate the objective of administering justice seamlessly in the state.
Citing prescriptions by Holy Scriptures, the CJ said the gains of the retreat was the room it creates for social relation, serving as morale booster and providing the avenue for the intellectual transaction channeled at enhancing staff productivity and galvanizing a proactive judicial system. He urged them to retain the spirit of bonding that programs of such nature provide for both personal and official benefits.
“You have been taken from the pressures of your offices to feel a form of closeness that is useful to you personally and officially. It makes it possible that you will even be able to defend yourselves as brothers and sisters should the need arise. Please let this spirit permeate as one of the achievements we are going to take from here. Take whatever you are going to learn from our resource persons seriously. Ask the right questions and be free to touch on any issue bothering you during our interactions. I am sure with that, there will be change as you return to your offices with whatever you have learnt from here” he advised.
Resource persons dealt with topics on effective institutional management and healthy living awareness at the retreat.
Welcoming attendants earlier, the Director of Establishment and Training at the High Court of Justice, Mrs. Adenike Shittu, reasoned that the retreat was an opportunity to reconnect, reflect and collectively recharge in order to explore and collate ideas that would propel the organization for the future.
“The retreat is not just to step away from our busy routines, it is a chance for us to reconnect, reflect and recharge. Together we will explore the vision and strategy that will guide us in the coming legal year, share insights and collaborate on ideas that will propel the organization forward” she said while also adding that the management would emerge from the retreat with “renewed energy and focus.”
Three resource persons were drawn for the 2-day program. While Dr. Onimode A. Bamidele and Mr. Dapo Akingbade dealt with “Effective Team Management Strategies for the Management of Kogi State Judiciary”, Dr. Martins Okpote took on “Health Awareness”. They respectively dealt extensively with team work, management styles, strategies and courage to take responsibility for effectiveness as well as factors affecting health and healthy living as requirements for organizational growth.
Virtually all management staff of the two organs were in attendance just as Dr. Tanko Muhammed, Secretary, Judicial Service Commission, led those of the commission, Jubril Oladimeji Ibrahim Esq., the Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, led those of the court.
