No FCT judge will live in rented apartment by 2027 – Wike

No FCT Judge Will Live in Rented Apartment by 2027 - Wike

In a bold declaration aimed at improving the welfare of judicial officers, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that by the end of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s first term in office, no judge serving in the FCT High Court will be living in rented accommodation.

This announcement was made during the official flag-off ceremony for the design and construction of residences for the Heads of Courts in the FCT, held on Monday, October 13, 2025.

Wike emphasized that the initiative is a direct response to President Tinubu’s commitment to enhancing the living and working conditions of judicial officers. He clarified that the housing project specifically targets judges of the FCT High Court, not those serving in the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court.

According to Wike, the era of judges residing in rented quarters will soon be a thing of the past, as the government is determined to provide them with permanent and dignified housing.

The minister described the day of the flag-off as one of the most significant since his appointment, noting that the welfare of judicial officers was a top priority for the President. 

He also revealed that the new residences will be granted to the judges as personal property upon retirement, further underscoring the administration’s commitment to long-term welfare and institutional respect for the judiciary.

This development is part of a broader effort to resolve the accommodation challenges faced by judges in Abuja. Wike pledged that 80% of these challenges would be addressed before the end of Tinubu’s first term in 2027.

The housing project includes residences for key judicial figures such as the President of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Chief Judge of the FCT, and the President of the Industrial Court.