Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has criticized the Federal Government over the allocation of houses to judges, questioning the legal basis for the gesture and describing it as discriminatory.
Falana made the remarks while speaking on Housing TV Africa on Thursday. He said he was concerned after learning that the government had handed over houses to members of the judiciary, stressing that such benefits should not be limited to a particular group of public officials.
According to him, the government must explain the law that permits the allocation of houses exclusively to judges while other categories of workers continue to struggle with housing challenges.
The senior lawyer noted that judges deserve comfortable and secure accommodation because of the sensitive nature of their duties. However, he argued that university lecturers, civil servants, healthcare workers, security personnel, and other public servants also contribute significantly to national development and should not be ignored.
Falana said Nigeria has reached a stage where citizens should begin to question special privileges enjoyed by top public officials and influential individuals. He maintained that public policies should be guided by fairness, equality, and the rule of law.
“I was surprised when I saw that judges were being presented with keys to houses by the Federal Government. My immediate question was: under what law is this being done?” he said.
He added that while the welfare of judges is important, government programmes should be designed in a way that benefits a broader segment of society rather than a select group.
Falana stressed that the principle of equality before the law requires that all citizens be treated fairly. He warned that if similar opportunities are not made available to other workers, the policy could be challenged in court.
The legal practitioner further called on the government to develop housing schemes that can accommodate professors, teachers, civil servants, and other workers who have dedicated years of service to the country.
According to him, ensuring decent housing for a wider range of Nigerians would promote social justice and reduce feelings of exclusion among workers.
Falana concluded by insisting that what is considered beneficial for judges should also be considered for other public servants, saying that fairness and equal treatment remain essential pillars of a democratic society.
