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Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has urged all 36 State Attorneys General in the country to adopt the implementation of policies that would enhance justice delivery for the benefit of citizens.
Fagbemi made this call on Thursday at the opening of the meeting of the Body of Attorneys-General held in Abuja.
He emphasized that while adopting policies is an important step, it is insufficient unless followed by effective implementation.
He said, “It is not enough to adopt policies; there must also be concerted efforts to implement them.
“In this regard, governments at all levels are expected to adopt strategies and mechanisms to facilitate the implementation of policies that enhance justice delivery and safeguard the personal liberties of our citizens.
“We must commit to resolving cross-institutional challenges and managing, implementing, and coordinating all-inclusive reforms in the justice sector to enhance justice delivery.”
The AGF, however, applauded the Body of State Attorneys-General for their efforts and collaboration in national policy development, noting that it has led to harmonized positions on critical issues affecting justice delivery.
He highlighted the development of the National Policy on Justice and the National Policy on Arbitration as part of the key achievements made.
He urged BOSAG to continue engaging as stakeholders to ensure that other critical challenges in the criminal justice system are addressed.
He said, “I would like to commend you all for the modest successes we have achieved as a body in building consensus along issues which resulted in the validation and adoption of these policies.
“These efforts reflect bold initiatives aimed at achieving national aspirations for the justice sector through unity of purpose.
“The National Policy on Arbitration, which was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council, is a significant initiative to strengthen arbitration and alternative dispute resolution practices through a robust and effective governance mechanism.
“Even more significant is the National Policy on Justice, which is a blueprint that outlines the desired reforms in the justice sector to engender fair, accountable, and transparent administration of justice in the country.”
The AGF expressed confidence in the policies, stressing that they will serve as the foundation for achieving the much-desired reforms in the administration of justice and strengthen the capacity of the justice system to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.
He urged the state AGs to avoid unnecessary litigation and instead focus on meaningful engagements.
He said, “I am particularly interested in deepening the relationship with the Honourable Attorneys-General of the states to enable us to continue to drive the much-needed change and create uniform solutions to challenges affecting justice delivery in Nigeria.
“We must, therefore, continue to promote institutional engagement and avoid unnecessary litigation where possible.”
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, in her address, recalled how the Federal Ministry of Justice over the past year has championed initiatives and policies aimed at addressing specific issues, particularly those relating to criminal justice administration, access to justice, and the rule of law.
Jedy-Agba noted that while progress has been made in the development of some policies, “Our objective at the Federal Ministry of Justice is to continue to seek collaborative platforms so that we can promote support and cooperation for developing harmonized legal regimes for issues affecting the nation, particularly with respect to the protection of women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
“These reforms cannot be achieved without working harmoniously with all relevant stakeholders across the country.”
She added, “This year, the focus of the meeting is on adopting a harmonized approach to addressing issues affecting criminal justice administration and the protection of women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
“I encourage the Honourable Attorneys-General, as critical stakeholders, to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Ministry so that these issues can be harmoniously addressed. Let us leverage our individual institutional capacities to ensure effective implementation of policies and legal frameworks.”
The BOSAG chairman, Ben Odoh, represented by the Attorney General of Nasarawa State, Labaran Magaji, highlighted that they were encountering challenges in implementing the Supreme Court judgment regarding local government autonomy.
“In all 36 states, we are facing issues in implementing the Supreme Court judgment. This is one of the things that is really bothering us,” he said.
