The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has expressed satisfaction on the coming together to put in place a policy that would set out agreed principles and guidelines for effective and efficient service delivery.
He made this known in his opening address at the National Summit on Justice held on Thursday 10th August, 2017 in Abuja.
Malami added that the policy would provide framework for resolving cross institutional problems, developing and managing an all-inclusive reforms, as well as coordinating the implementation of reforms.
AGF represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation/ Permanent Secretary, Taiwo Abidogun, Esq. FCIArb, said the policy would provide a blueprint which outlines the various reforms desirable in the justice sector to engender smooth, fair, just and transparent administration of justice in the country.
Malami reaffirmed that the policy would enable the needed professional guidance for all justice sector institutions in the discharge of their duties and the attainment of an effective and efficient administration of justice.
He disclosed that the Participants at the technical session made recommendation for a national summit to be held annually to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the policy.
‘’I wish to express our appreciation to distinguished participants for their response to a call to contribute to a national assignment. Your invaluable contribution to the draft policy has in no small measure demonstrated our collective determination to reposition the justice sector for better, efficient and effective service delivery” he added.
The Minister concluding expressed his appreciation to members of the Technical Committee on Justice Policy under the Chairmanship of Prof. Mohammed Tabiu, SAN, for their diligence and hard work in the development of the draft policy.
In his keynote address, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who was represented by Senator David Umaru, Senate Committee Chairman on Judiciary said that the Justice System is about front line delivery and making a difference. Adding that justice is about keeping the people safe, tackling harm, rehabilitating, supporting victims and administering the rule of law.
“Efficient Justice delivery is central to the nation’s economic growth, development and socio economic wellbeing of citizens. Investors will only put their money in a place where there is a functional judicial system and where every citizen is governed in equal measures by rule of law”.
The Chairman of the occasion, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen, represented by Hon. Justice Mary Odili, in his address, said “it is hoped that the policy will achieve its goal of building consensus among justice sector institutions and practitioners for the purpose of addressing collectively the major challenges facing the justice delivery system in the country and evolving a justice that is fairer, more effective, accessible, efficient and responsive to the hopes and aspirations of our people “.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by the Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Etsu Umaru, explained that the document for validation is the result of a detailed and methodical appraisal of the justice sector and recommendations for reform by relevant players in the sector.
He further stressed that,” today marks the high point of your collective efforts to reposition the justice system to respond to present and future challenges which hinders administration of justice in the country”.
The Deputy County Representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), Elisabeth Bayer in her goodwill message stated that the Justice Summit and particularly the National Policy on Justice would give the hope of a better and more improved justice delivery in Nigeria and in future. “The UNODC is confident to support Justice Sector in Nigeria and is poised for further successful development”, she added.
Ogundoro Modupe
Asst. Director
