Law News
Jonathan Asks Senate to Confirm Mohammed as New CJN

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the new Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The president in a letter to the Senate President, David Mark, said Mohammed’s appointment was in compliance with Section 231(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which he said gave him the power to appoint the CJN, acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC). He urged the Senate to treat the appointment with urgency.

“In conformity with Section 231 sub-section (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, which gives the president powers to appoint a Chief Justice of Nigeria acting on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and subject to confirmation of the appointment by the Senate, l have the honour to forward the nomination of Honourable Justice Mahmud Mohammed, CFR for confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria. It is my hope that this request will receive the usual expeditious attention of the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” the letter read.

Mohammed will replace Justice Aloma Mukhtar whose tenure expires on November 20,  following the attainment of mandatory retirement age of 70.

Also yesterday, a bill seeking to protect the interest of Nigeria’s workforce through the establishment of Nigeria Labour Council, Arbitration Commission and Office of Trade Unions’ Registrar, passed through second reading on the floor of the Senate.

The bill, among others, seeks to guarantee freedom of association, industrial relations, good working conditions for workers, health and occupational safety.

It also seeks to prevent, contain and enhance speedy resolution of labour disputes through the transformation of Industrial Arbitration Panel into a commission which will be responsible for the regulation of the practice of industrial arbitration in Nigeria.

The bill which originated from the House of Representatives also aims at correcting the inadequacies contained in Trade Dispute Act and also give credibility to judgments by arbitration tribunals.

Also yesterday, three All Progressives Congress (APC)  senators who defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ogun State  wrote the Senate president, notifying him about their defection from APC to SDP.

The senators said their defection was the aftermath of factionalisation of the party as well as the emergence of parallel executives from the party in the state. The senators are Adegbenga Kaka (Ogun East), Olugbenga Obadara (Ogun Central) and Akin Odunsi (Ogun West).

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