Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticised the Federal Government over its decision to present houses to judges, arguing that the gesture raises serious legal and constitutional questions.
Speaking during the Housing TV Africa programme on Thursday, Falana challenged the government to identify the law that authorises the allocation of houses exclusively to judges, insisting that public resources should be distributed fairly and without discrimination.
His comments have sparked fresh debate over welfare packages for public officials and whether similar benefits should be extended to other categories of government workers.
According to Falana, Nigeria has reached a stage where citizens must begin questioning what he described as special privileges granted to top public office holders while many other public servants continue to struggle with inadequate welfare.
“I was very sad when I saw that the Federal Government was handing over the keys of houses to judges, and I asked myself, ‘Under what law are we operating?’ Because it’s discriminatory and illegal,” Falana said.
While acknowledging that judges deserve secure and comfortable accommodation due to the sensitive nature of their duties, the senior lawyer argued that the same level of concern should be shown to university lecturers, civil servants and other public sector employees.
He maintained that equal treatment remains a fundamental principle of the Nigerian Constitution, stressing that government policies should not create unnecessary distinctions among citizens performing public service.
Falana further urged the Federal Government to consider extending similar housing support to professors and other categories of workers, insisting that fairness should guide public policy.
According to him, if the government fails to ensure equal treatment, the policy could face legal challenges in court. He noted that what benefits one group of public servants should also be considered for others where circumstances permit.
The remarks have added to ongoing national conversations about public sector welfare, judicial independence and the equitable distribution of government benefits as Nigerians continue to debate priorities in the use of public funds.
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