Report: Food Price Watch August 2011

“Global prices of food in July 2011 remain significantly higher than their levels in July 2010 and close to the 2008 peak levels, with the World Bank Food Price Index increasing by 33 percent in the last year. Prices for the period April to July 2011 have declined slightly from their peak in February, although prices remain volatile for specific commodities such as rice, maize, and wheat. Prospects for the overall supply of food have improved since April 2011, but several sources of uncertainty remain. Global stocks still remain alarmingly low. For example, the stocks-to-use ratio for maize currently stands at 13 percent, the lowest since the early 1970s. At these low stock levels, even small shortfalls in yields can have amplified effects on prices.”

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Special Report: Profile Of Nigeria’s National Judicial Council

The National Judicial Council is one of the Federal Executive Bodies created by virtue of Section 153 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In order to insulate the Judiciary from the whims and caprices of the Executive; hence guarantee the independence of this Arm of Government, which is a sine qua non for any democratic Government, the National Judicial Council was created and vested with enormous powers and functions:

• Advise the President or Governor on any matter referred to them by such parties, pertaining to the judiciary;
• Appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over members and staff of the Council, and disburse all moneys of the Council;
• Deal with all other matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration.

Constitution:

According to sections 20,21,and 22 of the 3rd schedule of the 1999 Constitution;

20.  The National Judicial Council shall comprise the following members-

a)  The Chief Justice of Nigeria who shall be the
Chairman;

b)  The next most senior Justice of the Supreme Court who shall be the Deputy Chairman;

c)   The President of the Court of Appeal;

d)   Five retired justices selected by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Supreme Court or court of Appeal;

e)   The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court;

f)    Five Chief Judges of States to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Chief Judges of the States and of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in rotation to serve for two years;

g)  One Grand Kadi to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among Grand Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;

h)  One President of the Customary Court of Appeal to be appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria from among the Presidents of the Customary courts of Appeal to serve in rotation for two years;

i)    Five members of the Nigerian Bar Association who have been qualified to practice for a period of not less than fifteen years, at least on of whom shall be Senior Advocate of Nigeria, appointed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria on the recommendation of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to serve for two years and subject to reappointment:

      Provided that the five members shall sit in the Council only for the purposes of considering the names of persons for appointment to the superior courts of records; and 

j)   Two persons not being legal practitioners, who in the opinion of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, are of unquestionable integrity.

 21.  The National Judicial Council shall have power to-

a)   Recommend to the President from among the list of persons submitted to it by-

                             i. The Federal Judicial Service Commission, persons for appointment to the offices of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Justices of the Supreme Court, the President and Justices of the Court of Appeal, the Chief Judge and Judges of the Federal High Court, and

                             ii. the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, persons for appointment to the offices of the Chief Judge and Judges of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the Grand Kadi and Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and the President and Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

b)  Recommend to the President the removal  from office of the Judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (a) of this paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

c)  Recommend to the Governors from among the list of persons submitted to it by the State Judicial Service Commissions persons for appointments to the offices of the Chief Judges of the States and Judges of the High Courts of the States, the Grand Kadis and Kadis of the Sharia Courts of Appeal of the States;

d)  Recommend to the Governors the removal from office of the judicial officers specified in sub-paragraph (c) of this paragraph, and to exercise disciplinary control over such officers;

e) Collect, control and disburse all moneys, capital and recurrent, for the judiciary;

f)   Advise the President and Governors in any matter pertaining to the judiciary as may be referred to the Council by the President or the Governors;

g) Appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over members and staff of the Council;

h) Control and disburse all monies, capital and recurrent, for the services of the Council; and

i)   Deal with all other matters relating to broad issues of policy and administration.

 22. The Secretary of the Council shall be appointed by the National Judicial Council on the recommendation of the Federal Judicial Service Commission and shall be a legal practitioner.