Judiciary needs the confidence of the people to maintain legitimacy, says Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

A judiciary that is strong, efficient, and uncompromising in its integrity is not merely desirable, but indispensable to the survival of Nigeria’s democracy and its prosperity, said President Bola Tinubu in Abuja yesterday as he urged the nation’s judges to be rigorous and courageous in addressing the challenges facing the judiciary.

“Our Judges are the living custodians of justice; the calibre of their work defines the moral strength of the Republic,” said Tinubu as he declared the 2025 All Nigerian Judges Conference open at the National Judicial Institute, “That is why judicial welfare, training, and independence are not privileges; they are imperatives.”

Established under 1991 legislation, the National Judicial Institute is Nigeria’s premier institution for the continuing education, training, and professional development of judicial officers and court staff. Across five days this week it is hosting the 2025 edition of the biennial Conference of All Nigeria Judges of the Superior Courts.

The theme of this year’s conference, “Building a Confident Judiciary” was timely and could not be more fitting, said Tinubu, given prevailing public perception. Even where a judgement is grounded in law and delivered with clarity, noted the President, unless the public perceives it to be fair and impartial, it can lose authority.

“The confidence of the people is, therefore, not an abstract aspiration,” he continued, while reiterating his government’s unwavering, strong support for the judiciary. “It is the living measure of the Judiciary’s legitimacy and the true currency of justice. We must acknowledge, with candour, that public perception of the judicial process has not always been favourable. Citizens have expressed frustration at delays, concerns about integrity, and anxiety over access to justice.”

Whether the public perceptions are justified or not, they cannot be ignored, said the President. The government, lawyers, and judiciary must reflect, reform, and restore faith, because justice does not exist for the Bench or the Bar, but for the people.

Public faith in the judicial process is the foundation of national stability.

“We cannot build a just society without a fearless and functional Judiciary. In this spirit, we have resolved to provide the institutional and material support that will enable our courts to perform their duties with dignity, confidence, and efficiency. Our courts must no longer be places where cases languish for years. They must become beacons of efficiency, where disputes are resolved swiftly, and where litigants depart with renewed confidence in the rule of law,”

Tinubu praised the judiciary, offering the nation’s “deepest gratitude and abiding respect” for its role as a stabilising force, and for taking fearless interventions during critical moments in Nigeria’s history to restrain tyranny and preserve constitutional order. He pledged to continue supporting the National Judicial Institute as the hub for judicial education, comparative study, and professional development

“Continuous learning and intellectual renewal must remain the hallmark of our Bench. The law evolves daily, and so too must those who interpret and apply it. We must ensure that our judges are not only equipped to interpret law in contemporary times but also empowered to shape it in accordance with constitutional values.”

Digitisation of court processes, adoption of integrated case management systems, and the provision of secure and reliable judicial facilities would receive sustained attention from his government, pledged Tinubu, with modernisation of Nigeria’s courts a central priority. Technology is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.

“A digital, transparent judiciary will not only improve efficiency but will also deepen accountability and public trust,” said the President. “We should not leave any of our courts behind in this transformation.”