By Ahmed AHMED
A Coalition of Civil Society organizations under the aegis of Sexual and Gender Based Violence Justice Network Cluster, have advocated for budget allocation to the Bauchi State Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council (ACJMC) in the state.
The coalition comprises CSOs from Iqra Foundation for Women and Youth Development, Agbani Farms Limited, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women, League of Women Voters.
Others included Community Advancement Initiative for Self-Reliance (CAI4SR), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) and Lawyers Alert.
Speaking on behalf of the cluster on Sunday in Bauchi, Mrs Amina Garuba, Executive Director, Ikra Foundation for Women and Youths Development, also advocated for a designated bank account for smooth funding of the council’s activities.
She said that the cluster was aimed at conducting advocacy and other activities to engage public and private sectors in Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), adding that the project was funded by SCALE/USAID.
She stressed that the Administration of Criminal Justice in the dispensation of justice in respect to SGBV would not be overemphasized.
“The Secretary of the Council as the accounting officer for the purpose of controlling and disbursing monies from the Fund as provided in Section 468 (2) of the ACJ Law; open an official Bank account.
“This is solely for the receipt and disbursement of the funds needed to run the council’s secretariat and its activities if it does not already have one,” she said.
Garuba also said that the Cluster planned to visit the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for a supplementary budget for the council in 2023 and inclusion in the state annual budget.
Reacting, the Solicitor General in the state, Barr. Aliyu Ibn Idris, while stating the commitment of the state ministry of justice, assured the gathering that a visit to the office of the Accountant General would be facilitated to initiate the process of ACJMC bank account.
However, the Chief Justice of the State, Mrs Rabi Umar said that the Iqra Foundation would be incorporated into ACJMC in 2024.
Represented by the Chief Registrar, Bauchi State High Court, Barr Fatima Abubakar, Umar said that the council would continue to partner with Iqra Foundation to build the capacity of its members and stakeholders in the discharge of their function.