President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s strong commitment to following the rule of law, respecting the separation of powers, and allowing dissent within the law. Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos on Sunday, the president emphasized his administration’s dedication to these basic principles.
According to a statement from Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Information, Office of the Vice President, Tinubu acknowledged the NBA’s impressive history of supporting democracy and 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 said.
The President encouraged Nigerian lawyers and citizens to join his administration in working towards a better Nigeria, saying that the country must move away from past practices if it wants to achieve sustainable development. He assured everyone that, although making tough decisions to change past methods will have difficult outcomes, his administration’s policies and actions will soon bring relief to Nigerians.
President Tinubu said, “Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, while I acknowledge the temporary challenges we face as a nation, I urge you all not to give up; instead, we should stay committed to working for the country of our dreams. It’s clear that Nigeria cannot continue on the same path if we want sustainable development; we need to clean up the past and rebuild the nation. I know that making changes is hard, but I am confident that this is just a phase and our policies and actions will soon bring relief.”
The President thanked the Supreme Court for supporting good governance and democracy in Nigeria, noting the recent judgment that granted financial independence to local government councils. He said this decision “will spur the much-desired developments at the grassroots level,” and expressed hope that “more of such strategic and reform-oriented legal interventions will be achieved” by the judiciary.
On the executive side, President Tinubu promised that his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of the judiciary. He stated, “I want to assure the Learned members of the Bench and the Bar that this government will continue to give top priority to the welfare of the judiciary to ease their burden and speed up the legal process, which is essential for social order and economic development. It is, therefore, my hope that the NBA will provide the right legal guidance for all people, the government, and businesses towards rebuilding our nation.”
The President highlighted efforts his administration is making to reform the judiciary, including signing the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act 2024, which resulted in a 300% increase in pay for judicial officers, and ensuring that the Supreme Court is fully staffed. He also revealed that his administration “is working on building a permanent and fitting building for the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. Additionally, plans are being made to provide comfortable housing for federal judicial officers within the Federal Capital Territory. All these measures aim to strengthen the independence, welfare, and capacity of the judiciary,” he added.
President Tinubu praised the theme, “Pressing Forward: A National Posture for Rebuilding Nigeria,” chosen by the NBA for this year’s conference. He also commended the Association for always being part of “the vanguard for initiating and driving reforms to stimulate economic growth and development.”
In her keynote address titled “A Social Contract for Nigeria’s Future,” Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), said efforts must be made to speed up growth and development, as Nigeria has all it needs to succeed. The former Nigerian Finance Minister, and the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, expressed regret that Nigeria has not progressed as much as it should in its over 60 years of existence. “Strong macroeconomic reforms are something we need in Nigeria. Oil has dominated Nigerian exports, but we must diversify to agricultural and solid minerals exports,” she added.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala lamented the lack of consistent policies, which she said has affected the nation’s growth. She stressed that Nigeria needs a social contract to reduce the volatility of inconsistent policies, adding that achieving a social contract requires the security of lives and national assets. She said the NBA has a role in achieving this social contract. “We need a new social contract to achieve growth in our country. My belief in the need for a social contract is based on the need to tolerate different political parties and past administrations that preceded any administration in power,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala noted.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, the host of the event, emphasized that the security of lives and property is a key aspect of the social contract. He urged the judiciary to strengthen the nation’s electoral process and assured that Lagos is ready to embrace the social contract. He also mentioned that for five years, he has not taken any money from the local government treasury. “And we have demonstrated that even in the legal profession, where all of you are part of, we have more women in our judiciary consistently than any other part of the country, and we kept faith in that,” Sanwo-Olu added.
In his welcome address, NBA President Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) assured that the bar will continue to work for justice in Nigeria, adding that the bar’s respect is a symbol of freedom in the country. “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 perform their duties with determination and to avoid corruption at all levels.
The event also featured the launch of a book titled “History of the Nigerian Bar Association,” written by Nigerian lawyer Olanrewaju Akinsola. Other dignitaries at the event included Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, former President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), President of the Court of Appeal Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the Ooni of Ife His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (the Ọjájá II), and representatives of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives, among others.
