President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria has urged the classification of individuals involved in kidnapping as terrorists in order to effectively combat their criminal activities.
During a Ramadan dinner with members of the federal judiciary, led by Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, President Tinubu condemned the cowardly actions of kidnapping syndicates and emphasised the need to treat them as terrorists to address the menace they pose.
Asserting the government’s commitment to tackling banditry, President Tinubu emphasised that those resorting to kidnapping, particularly of children, are incapable of facing the might of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
He stated, ”We must treat kidnappers as terrorists. They are cowardly. They have been degraded. They look for soft targets. They go to schools, kidnap children and cause disaffection. We must treat them equally as terrorists in order to get rid of them, and I promise you we will get rid of them.”
President Tinubu also addressed the issue of judicial officers’ salaries, pledging continued implementation of reforms to improve their welfare and working conditions.
Recognising the significant responsibilities of the judiciary, he expressed concern over the slow progress in modernising equipment and recordkeeping, as well as the limitations faced by judicial officers after retirement.
The President emphasised the need for fair compensation for judicial officers, highlighting ongoing efforts to address their welfare concerns. He expressed appreciation for the judiciary’s dedicated service and affirmed the government’s commitment to supporting them.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria commended President Tinubu for hosting the Ramadan dinner and praised his commitment to judicial reforms and improving the welfare of judicial officers. He offered prayers for the success of the President’s administration, expressing optimism about the positive developments underway for Nigerians.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice thanked the President for forwarding an executive bill aimed at addressing judicial officers’ salaries and allowances to the National Assembly. He commended the President’s courage and compassion in addressing the stagnant state of judges’ salaries since 2007, highlighting the significant increase proposed in the bill.
The President’s Ramadan fast with Nigerian judicial officers was attended by serving and retired judicial officers, including two former Chief Justices of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen.