Taraba Assembly Advances Judiciary Fund Management Bill

On Wednesday, the Taraba State House of Assembly passed the Judiciary Fund Management Bill 2026 to its second reading during a plenary session, marking a significant step towards strengthening judicial autonomy in the state. The bill, which aims to establish a transparent framework for managing judicial finances and transitioning control from the executive arm to a fully autonomous judicial system, was sponsored by Speaker John Kizito Bonzena and introduced alongside Abel Peter Diah.

The motion to advance the bill was moved by Deputy Majority Leader Nuhu Akila Rantiyo, who described the proposed legislation as vital for enhancing operational efficiency and the independence of the judiciary. During the debate, several lawmakers, including John Lamba, Tanko Abubakar, Yusuf Tafarki, and Agbadu Enem, emphasized the importance of addressing existing gaps in judicial financial control.

The House unanimously adopted the motion for the bill's second reading, and the Clerk, Amo Salmuna Sani, read the long title of the bill before it was referred to the House Committee on Finance, Appropriations, and Economic Planning for further legislative scrutiny, including a mandated public hearing.