The federal government has inaugurated a high-powered committee of legal experts to review, update, and consolidate outdated Nigerian laws within six months.
This initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to promote the rule of law and improve access to justice, aligning with his policy objectives of facilitating socio-economic growth and advancing legal reforms.
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, announced this during the committee’s inauguration, urging its members to be thorough in their tasks. He emphasized the importance of identifying outdated laws that no longer align with contemporary values and needs and harmonizing conflicting laws to ensure uniformity.
“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 (LFN) since 2004, to enable clarity, predictability, consistency, and uniformity in our body of laws,” Fagbemi stated.
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He further explained, “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 to address contemporary socio-economic developments.”
Fagbemi noted that the review, update, and consolidation of the Laws of the Federation, 2004, are long overdue. This process aims to reflect legislative developments, including repeals, amendments, and enactments, from 2004 to the present, in furtherance of the law development mandate of the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The committee will focus on key areas such as identifying outdated laws, harmonizing conflicting legislation, and promoting efficiency and adaptation to technological advancements. It is chaired by Mr. Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, and co-chaired by the Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, Professor Jummai Audi.
The committee’s terms of reference include coordinating the collection and compilation of the Laws of the Federation up to 2024, collaborating with relevant government agencies to harmonize these laws, and preparing a comprehensive report of findings for the AGF.
“The time frame for completion of this national assignment shall be six months from the date of this inauguration. I enjoin the committee to make best efforts to deliver within the stated timeline,” Fagbemi said. He expressed gratitude to the National Assembly, the Nigeria Law Reform Commission, and the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies for their support of this initiative.
Fagbemi concluded by urging the committee to work with synergy and exhibit patriotism, emphasizing the importance of their work for the nation’s future.
