South West Attorneys General Lend Support To Judicial Autonomy

By Ayodele Oni

Attorneys General and Commissioners for Justice in the South West met in Ado Ekiti Monday and reaffirmed commitment of their States to financial autonomy for the Judiciary.

In their communiqué at the end of the meeting, the Chief Law Officers commended South West Governors Forum for its proactive steps in the resolution of the issue of financial autonomy for the judiciaries in states in the region and adoption of a template for implementation.

It described the passage of the Judicial (Funds Management) Bill, 2021 by the Ondo and Ogun States Houses of Assembly as a welcome development urging others to do same soonest.

It equally noted that Ministries of Justice of Ekiti, Lagos, Osun and Oyo States, have proposed Judicial (Funds Management) Bills for the consideration of States Houses of Assembly in those States.

Others agreement include “Resolve to exchange States Judicial (Funds Management) Bills to ensure uniformity of the South West States on the implementation of judicial financial autonomy.

“Implementation of Financial Autonomy for the State Legislature

“Commend South West Governors Forum for its proactive steps in the resolution of the issue of financial autonomy for the legislatures in the South West States of Nigeria and the adoption of a template for implementation.”

On the proposed amendment of the constitution, the commissioners of Justice reiterated the commitment of South West States of Nigeria to key areas of Constitutional Reform.

Those areas include Gender Equity, and increased participation of women in public life; Fiscal Federalism and the need for a holistic review of the Exclusive legislative list in the 1999 Constitution with emphasis on the need to devolve more legislative items to States.

It backed the establishment of State Police Service to serve as a territorial police force to complement the Nigeria Police in law enforcement in each of the South West States.

The commissioners resolved to actively participate in the deliberations of the Joint committee, set up by the governors on the constitution amendment until its final report is presented to the National Assembly.

They further agreed “to work together to ensure that Judgments from High Courts of South West States are collated and published.

“To immediately constitute a working Committee to work on the harmonization of Laws and judgments of the high courts of South West States of Nigeria.

“And frequently exchange Laws and policies that impact on socio-economic and political growth of the South West States.”