National Assembly to improve funding of Body of Benchers

The President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has said that the National Assembly will in the 2014 budget consider appropriate budgetary allocation to the Body of Benchers of Nigeria to enable it function properly and contribute towards making the society a better place.
Senator Mark said that it is of no use setting up an agency or institution if it cannot be funded to carry out its constitutional mandate.
Responding to the requests by the Body of Benchers for adequate budgetary allocation to the body believed to be cash strapped, Senator Mark noted that the body is a respectable and responsible institution that sees to the standard and adherence to the professional conduct of the legal profession.
Acknowledging the relevance of the Body of Benchers to the legal profession and the society at large, the Senate president noted: “No country can function properly or survive without a good legal profession, which the Benchers represent.
“We shall examine and consider your requests appropriately.
“We shall do our best to provide a conducive atmosphere for your operation.
“We acknowledge that you will add value to the legal profession and make our society a better place for all.”
Briefing the Senate president earlier, the leader of the delegation and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher, said inadequate funding in terms of budgetary allocation to the Body was preventing the secretariat from carrying out some of its vial functions.
Besides the completion of the Benchers Hall, Justice Musdapher requested for adequate funding in the forthcoming 2014 budget to enable it maintain a functional secretariat.
Senior lawyers, judicial officers, including serving and retired Chief Justices of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation and those of the states are members of the Body of Benchers f Nigeria.