The Executive Secretary of the National Judicial Council, NJC, Ahmed Saleh, at the budget defence before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Judiciary, warned that the sharp reduction in the judiciary’s proposed 2026 budget could cripple its operations. He said that the allocation is insufficient to meet constitutional responsibilities.

Saleh stated that the budget envelope was cut from about N541 billion in 2025 to N341 billion for 2026. He stressed that the judiciary cannot effectively function with the reduced funding.

The NJC Executive Secretary explained that rising obligations, including the new minimum wage, salary reviews, pensions, and ongoing reforms, require increased funding. He noted that the judiciary has proposed over N1 trillion to cover key expenses and improve justice delivery.

The Lawmakers requested the judiciary to submit a detailed breakdown of its budget proposal.

The Joint Committee, chaired by Senator Adegbonmire Adeniyi, expressed concerns over the reduction in the 2026 allocation, describing the cut as troubling and pledged support for adequate funding.