Lawan, Gbajabiamila Seek Judicial Reforms, Propose Prison Decentralisation

The leadership of the National Assembly has proposed the
decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria
Correctional Service as part of efforts to reform security,
judicial and justice systems of the country.

The parliament is seeking the movement of correctional services
from the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution to the
Concurrent List.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known in Abuja on
Wednesday a one-day Roundtable on Reform of the Criminal Justice
System of Nigeria organised by the National Institute of
Legislative and Democratic Studies.

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by a member of the House,
Uzuwagbo Ugonna, said, “The scope of the Nigeria Criminal Justice
System, beginning with the police, the courts, correctional
service, our criminal laws and codes, including human personnel
that manage our criminal justice institutions, need reforms.

“As legislators, we will not be opposed to amending the
constitution to remove the establishment and management of
Correctional Service Centres from the Exclusive Legislative List
and add it to the Concurrent List.

“This, I believe, will fast-track and decongest our federal
correctional centres and enable willing states to provide better
correctional service centres with better living conditions for
their people.”

“The autonomy being advocated by our judicial officers across
the nation should be granted without delay, to encourage justice
without favour. We should consider the creation of special criminal
courts,” Gbajabiamila stated.

Lawan, who was represented by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said,
“No society grows without a productive criminal justice system,
considering the additional role the sector plays in maintaining
order and in fostering peace.

“With rising insecurity, we must be ready to strengthen the
justice system and be bold enough to ensure that criminals go
through diligent prosecution. This is to serve as deterrence to
others, reduce wrongdoings, promoting peace and enhancing growth
and development.”

The Director-General of NILDS, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, in his
remarks, called for the separation of the Ministry of Justice from
the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He noted that
the separation would allow for easy prosecution of corruption and
restoration of public confidence in the administration of
justice.

The leadership of the National Assembly has proposed the
decentralisation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria
Correctional Service as part of efforts to reform security,
judicial and justice systems of the country.

The parliament is seeking the movement of correctional services
from the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution to the
Concurrent List.

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; and Speaker of House of
Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made this known in Abuja on
Wednesday a one-day Roundtable on Reform of the Criminal Justice
System of Nigeria organised by the National Institute of
Legislative and Democratic Studies.

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by a member of the House,
Uzuwagbo Ugonna, said, “The scope of the Nigeria Criminal Justice
System, beginning with the police, the courts, correctional
service, our criminal laws and codes, including human personnel
that manage our criminal justice institutions, need reforms.

“As legislators, we will not be opposed to amending the
constitution to remove the establishment and management of
Correctional Service Centres from the Exclusive Legislative List
and add it to the Concurrent List.

“This, I believe, will fast-track and decongest our federal
correctional centres and enable willing states to provide better
correctional service centres with better living conditions for
their people.”

“The autonomy being advocated by our judicial officers across
the nation should be granted without delay, to encourage justice
without favour. We should consider the creation of special criminal
courts,” Gbajabiamila stated.

Lawan, who was represented by Senator Olamilekan Adeola, said,
“No society grows without a productive criminal justice system,
considering the additional role the sector plays in maintaining
order and in fostering peace.

“With rising insecurity, we must be ready to strengthen the
justice system and be bold enough to ensure that criminals go
through diligent prosecution. This is to serve as deterrence to
others, reduce wrongdoings, promoting peace and enhancing growth
and development.”

The Director-General of NILDS, Prof Abubakar Suleiman, in his
remarks, called for the separation of the Ministry of Justice from
the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. He noted that
the separation would allow for easy prosecution of corruption and
restoration of public confidence in the administration of
justice.