FG Revamps Laws: 46-Member Committee Takes Charge

46 Experts to Update Nigeria's Laws

“The law is constantly dynamic and evolving, hence, there is need for...”

A 46-member committee, chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, and co-chaired by Professor Jummai Audi, aims to update and consolidate laws, promoting socio-economic development and access to justice.

The Federal Government has launched a 46-member committee to identify and review outdated laws in Nigeria. This committee, formed by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, consists of renowned experts, including retired judges, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, and high-ranking officials from the Nigeria Law Reform Commission and the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The committee's six-month mandate is to review, update, and consolidate all outdated laws in the country. This initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu's efforts to strengthen the rule of law, enhance access to justice, and promote socio-economic development through legal reforms.

Objectives:

• Identify outdated laws not aligned with contemporary needs and values
• Harmonize conflicting laws to ensure uniformity and consistency
• Update laws to reflect legislative developments since 2004
• Repeal redundant laws to attract socio-economic growth and investment.

The committee is chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, and co-chaired by Professor Jummai Audi, Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission. With their expertise and the support of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the committee is expected to deliver a comprehensive report and draft volumes of the updated Laws of the Federation 2024 within the stipulated timeframe.

The AGF said: “I would like to inform you all that this is a project which is particularly dear to my heart, and I have always been concerned about our seeming inability to update the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, LFN, since 2004, to enable clarity, predictability, consistency and uniformity in our body of laws.

“You are all aware that the general purpose of law is to protect public interest, regulate human behaviour and interactions between corporate entities.

“The law is constantly dynamic and evolving, hence, there is need for continuous review or reform of our body of laws (corpus juris), to address contemporary socio-economic developments, resolve conflicting and obsolete provisions with the ultimate aim of improving the administration of justice and promotion of rule of law.

“As you are aware, the review, update and consolidation of the Laws of the Federation, 2004 is long overdue in order to reflect and consolidate legislative developments (inclusive of repeals, amendments and enactments) from 2004 till date, in furtherance of the law development mandate of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

“The expected key areas of focus for the Committee in the instant exercise are identification of outdated laws which are not in line with contemporary needs and values, as well as harmonization of conflicting laws, to ensure uniformity and consistency.

“This is with a view to attracting socio- economic growth and investment, promoting efficiency and adapting to technological advancements.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has outlined the specific tasks for the committee, led by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, and co-chaired by Professor Jummai Audi, Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission. Their primary objective is to oversee the collection, collation, and compilation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) up to 2024.

Terms of Reference:

Coordinate Collection: Gather all existing laws and regulations

Collate and Compile: Organize and integrate the laws into a comprehensive document

Update to 2024: Ensure the laws are current and reflect recent amendments and changes

This initiative is a significant step towards streamlining Nigeria's legal framework and promoting transparency and accessibility.

“This Committee has been deliberately set up with individuals with vast professional experience and technical expertise in various aspects of the justice sector.

“I realize that there is a lot of work to be done and I would like to thank you all for accepting the call to serve our nation in this capacity.

“Let me particularly express gratitude to the leadership of the National Assembly, the Nigeria Law Reform Commission and Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies, for also supporting this initiative.

“Please be assured that the Ministry will always be available to provide institutional support and assistance where required, in order to ensure that the Committee achieves its mandate.”

Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, urged the newly formed 46-member committee to tackle their task with unwavering patriotism. She emphasized that numerous laws, some of which haven't been reviewed in over 20 years, are now outdated and no longer relevant, hindering the nation's progress.

Jedy-Agba's call to action highlights the pressing need for legal reform, ensuring that Nigeria's laws align with contemporary needs and values. The committee's mission is crucial in strengthening the rule of law, enhancing access to justice, and fostering socio-economic development. With their expertise and commitment, they will review, update, and consolidate outdated laws, paving the way for a more just and prosperous Nigeria.