To savage the deteriorated and unabated challenging insecurity menace in Nigeria, Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, encourages federal and state governments collaboration in terms of prosecution and other various measures of tackling the menace. He explained that the federal government should not be left alone to handle the insecurity menace particularly offences that fall within the states jurisdiction. Malami made this remarks in his opening statement at the conference of Attorneys-General in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
The minister further urged the instant Conference to open path in order to determine the accomplishments resulted from the commitment made in 2017 to eradicate Sexual and Gender Based Violence. He further highlighted some curicial factors left behind in the course to reform the administration of justice such as adequate funding for the judiciary and compliance with the provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy for the judiciary and State legislatures. Malami claims this portrays true and holistic commitment to the ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
Structure and system of federation’s governance are lacking awareness.
According to him, the conference, titled “Enhancing Synergy Between the Federal and State Governments in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria” corroborates one of the major anchors of Nigeria’s democratic life. He said holding the position of a Chief Law Officer incurs them as a stakeholders in the administration of both civil and criminal justice in Nigeria. However, there are certain responsibilities and obligations attached to the enviable position like making sure states institutions and officers contribute their quota in order to ensure that the legal system meets the general public expectations from the justice sector.
Speaking on exercising the mandate, Malami said Chief Law Officers should always be guided by the abiding framework under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, as per the amended Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution, which covers every facet of governance and our national life. The minister said the Federation’s structure and system of governance are lacking awareness of the possibility of having genuine disputes and frictions among the federating units, national and sub-national governments.
There is need to underplay mutual mistrust between FG, states.
Nevertheless, the common values and resources also make collaboration and mutual relationships imperative and fundamental. Therefore, this august body of Attorneys-General occupies a critical position in driving national unity and development. Also, there is a need to underplay the culture of mutual mistrust between the Federal and State Governments, in order to promote and enhance a symbiotic relationship between them. The primary objective is to scrutinize factors hampering the synergy in the administration of justice and proffer practical ways forward.
Furthermore, Malami said with such situations at various stages of judicial adjudication, it requires concerted effort with a view to achieving mutual resolution without prejudice to subsisting legal rights. He avers that the synchronized energy will sustain the ties, induce professional calling to bear on governance and reduce tension or frictions. This will adequately project the State and Federal Governments as partners and not competitors. Thus, Malami urges the prioritization of identitying areas of peer review and synergy in the legal system in terms of legislations, policies, procedures, capacity building, funding structures or facilities, among others, which can either be replicated or improved.
The policy was designed to provide a platform for collaboration.
Whereas a National Summit on Justice was congregated in 2017 to be adopted as a formidable reform blueprint, following discussions with various stakeholders and the members of this Body, development partners and the Civil Society Organizations. The policy was designed to provide opportunities and platforms for strengthening collaboration, coordination, and consensus-building among the Justice Sector Institutions. More so he solicited the support of states to key into the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which has now proceeded into its second phase; spanning from 2022 – 2026.
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Minister calls for FG, states security effort – State support is required for effective combat against insecurity menace. – Express your point of view.
The state and federal government should collaborate and work together at ensuring that security apparatus are provided for. The fight against this insecurity has to continue
It’s important that the states be as safe as possible for residence. The deteriorated state of security across the country is worrisome. Necessary action should be taken
The fight against this insecurity has to continue. FG and State should be concern on the security by collaborating to strengthening and also impose God fearing person to coordinate the security affairs of the country.
Abubakar Malami urges coordination between the federal government and the governments of the states in terms of prosecution and other various means of combating the problem.
It is unacceptable to delegate sole responsibility for addressing the national security threat to the federal government, especially when the problem involves violations of state law.
To attract and retain residents, states must provide the highest level of security feasible. It is concerning that national security has weakened to this extent. The appropriate measures must be adopted.
It is the responsibility of both the state and federal governments to provide the necessary security infrastructure. The struggle to dispel this sense of uncertainty must go on.
When the issue at hand involves violations of state law, it is not acceptable to place all the burden of addressing the national security concern on the federal government.
Combination of state government and FG will bring a solid and standard security to the country both of them need to work hand in hand to stop insecurities of the country not to rely it only on FG alone
This insecurity must be fought against indefinitely. In order to improve security, the FG and State should work together to appoint God-fearing individuals to oversee national security concerns.
All hands must be on deck concerning the issue of security in the country.With the way security is Nigeria federal government can’t do it alone both the state and the local government should come on board to defend their territory from this criminals.
support is required for effective combat against insecurity menace. The fact remains that this our present APC government have no solution to the insecurity issues in this country. Am waiting and hoping for next party president for better solution of security
The best way to actually defeat insecurity in Nigeria is for federal government, state government and the monarch in each community of Nigeria to come together and fight it.
This demonstrates a genuine and all-encompassing dedication to democratic principles, as well as to the rule of law and good government.
This demonstrates a genuine and all-encompassing dedication to democratic principles, as well as to the rule of law and good government.
There is a lack of awareness within the structure and system of administration of the Federation regarding the potential for genuine disagreements and frictions to arise among the federating entities, national and sub-national governments.
There are duties and responsibilities that come with the coveted position, such as making sure that state institutions and officers do their part to guarantee that the judicial system lives up to public expectations.
The fundamental goals and directive principles of state policy should serve as a constant guidance for chief law officers, and they should always look to that framework for direction.
The combined forces of the federal and state government including community leaders and monarch will help in complete eradication of the insecurity menace ravaging the country.
It is necessary to keep up the struggle against this insecurity. By working together to strengthen and the security matters of the nation, the FG and State should be concerned about security.