#NBAAGC2024: Tinubu Vows to Promote the Rule of Law, Adherence to the Principles of Separation of Powers, and Tolerance of Dissenting Views Within the Ambit of the Law
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to keep promoting the rule of law, adhere to the principles of separation of powers, and tolerate dissenting views within the ambit of the laws of Nigeria.
President Tinubu, who was represented by VP Kashim Shettima, made the vow on Sunday while declaring open the Annual General Conference of the Nigeria Bar Association in Lagos.
Tinubu said his administration had made steady progress in the effort to rebuild the country through legal and judicial reforms.
The president also acknowledged NBA’s sterling history of championing democratic ideals, as well as promoting the rule of law.
“Let me reassure you all that this administration will continue to promote the rule of law, adherence to the principles of separation of powers and tolerance of dissent within the bounds of the law,” he declared.
Tinubu implored Nigerian lawyers and other citizens to join hands with his administration in resolutely working towards a Nigeria of everybody’s dreams, saying the country cannot continue to toe the path threaded in the past if it must achieve sustainable development.
He assured that though difficult decisions to change the way things were done in the past would produce hard results, his administration’s policies and actions would bring relief to Nigerians very soon.
The president stated, “Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, while I acknowledge the temporal existence of some daunting challenges besetting us as a nation, I would like to urge you all not to adopt a defeatist approach; rather, we should remain resolute in working for a country of our dreams.
“It is obvious that Nigeria as a nation cannot continue to sojourn on the trajectory of the past if we must be assured of sustainable development; hence, the need to sanitise the Augean stable and chart a proper course of rebuilding the nation.
“I acknowledge that altering the status quo requires difficult decisions and changes, which also inevitably come with hard outcomes. However, I am confident that this is a passing phase and our policies and actions, as an administration, are bound to usher in relief in no distant time.”
Tinubu thanked the Supreme Court for consistently sustaining good governance and the tenets of democracy in Nigeria, citing the recent verdict of the highest court in the land, which granted financial autonomy to the local government councils.
He stated that the judgement “will spur the much-desired developments at the grassroots level”. He also expressed confidence “that more of such strategic and reform-oriented legal interventions will be achieved” by the third arm of government.
The president reiterated his administration’s commitment to making the welfare of the judiciary a top priority.
He stated, “I want to assure the learned members of the Bench and the Bar that this government will continue to accord top priority to the welfare of the judiciary to ease avoidable burden on their Lordships and speed up the adjudicatory process, which is a sine qua non for social order and economic development.
“It is, therefore, my fervent expectation that the NBA would provide the appropriate legal compass for all persons, government, and businesses towards rebuilding our dear nation.”
Tinubu outlined the efforts being made by his administration to reform the judiciary, including signing the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act 2024, leading to a 300 per cent increase in the remuneration of judicial officers, and putting in place the full complement of Justices of the Supreme Court.
The president disclosed that his administration “is also working on the construction of a permanent and befitting edifice for the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal”.
He said, “Furthermore, provisions are being made to provide conducive accommodation for federal judicial officers within the Federal Capital Territory. All these are part of measures to boost the independence, welfare, and capacity of the judiciary.”
He applauded the theme, “Pressing Forward: A National Posture for Rebuilding Nigeria,” chosen by NBA for this year’s annual national conference.
Tinubu also commended the association for always being part of “the vanguard for initiating and driving reforms to stimulate economic growth and development”.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said he would continue to recognise and work with all partners to improve on the country’s justice delivery system.
Fagbemi recalled that at his inauguration last year, one of his key deliverables was a commitment to enable a framework for collaboration between the justice ministry, the judiciary, and NBA.
He stated, “I am pleased to report that we have made substantial progress in this area. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a collaborative National Justice Summit was convened by the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Judicial Council, and the Nigerian Bar Association.
“What in my humble view is even more noteworthy is the statement of future activities presented in the format of a communique and signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and myself.
“Going forward, these three institutions now have a framework and a joint agenda for cooperation, collaboration and commitment on Justice Sector Reform. I look forward to the continuous pursuit of this agenda by both the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and the incoming President of the Nigerian Bar Association.”
Fagbemi disclosed that as part of efforts to reform the justice sector, the Tinubu administration had moved swiftly in approving befitting salary and allowances for judicial officers in Nigeria.
He, however, stated that improved remuneration was not the beginning and the end of the administration’s intervention in the judiciary. The minister added that the government was keen to work with stakeholders to ensure that other issues crucial to strengthening the capacity of the judiciary were dealt with expeditiously.
Earlier, in his welcome address, President of NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), assured the gathering that the Bar would continue to work for the course of justice in Nigeria. Maikyau said the respect the bar had was a symbol of freedom in the county.
“The bar is represented primarily by the need to serve justice to the people. Our existence as a people is intricately connected to our responsibility as the defenders of the people,” he said.
Maikyau urged lawyers to ensure that they discharged their duties to the people of Nigeria with determination, like the resilience of an eagle, and eschew corruption at all levels.
