The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has explained why the Federal Government did not insist on the immediate implementation of the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to local gGovernments.
Fagbemi said rather than insisting on prompt application of the judgment that could have created discomfort, the Federal Government adopted a humane and pragmatic approach to ensure that the implementation did not injure any interest.
He said: “Since the judgment was handed down on July 11, we have been trying to give it the required humane, pragmatic solution.”
The AGF explained that but for that decision, he would have given the Minister of Finance the required directive for the immediate application of the judgment.
He said: “I can simply tell the Minister of Finance that this is the way, and that would have been it.
“It is not meant to injure anybody. It is just to strengthen things. And it is in this regard that I want us look at it holistically as something that is affecting the interests of all of us. It is not impossible that one or two issues may give us some concern, but look at it in the overall interest our dear nation.”
Fagbemi spoke Thursday in Abuja during the opening session of the meeting of the Body of Attorneys-General.
The AGF was responding to a complaint by the Attorney General of Nasarawa State, Labaran Magaji (SAN), that the 36 states were having issues with the implementation of the apex court’s judgment.
Fagbemi said he was interested in deepening relationship with states’ attorneys-general “to enable us continue to drive the much-needed change and create uniform solutions to challenges affecting justice delivery in Nigeria”.
He added: “We must, therefore, continue to promote institutional engagement and avoid unnecessary litigation where possible.”
The AGF urged those at the meeting to focus on anti-corruption, gender parity, protection of children, particularly those in contact with the law and other issues pertaining to the administration of criminal justice.
According to him, the issues require harmonised approach to ensure effective national implementation for the benefit of our citizenry.
Fagbemi urged government at all levels to adopt strategies and mechanisms to facilitate implementation of policies that enhance justice delivery and safeguard personal liberties of our citizens.
He added: “We must commit to resolving cross-institutional problems as well as managing, implementing and coordinating all-inclusive reforms in the justice sector, to enhance justice delivery.
“We must also continue to engage as stakeholders, to ensure that other critical challenges to our criminal justice system are addressed.”
Magaji, who represented the Chairman of the Body of States’ Attorneys General (BOSAG), Prof. Benared Odoh of Ebonyi State, said there was a need for the gathering to collectively examine the Supreme Court’s judgment and its implementation.
Magaji said: “We in the whole of the 36 states are having issues with the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgment on financial autonomy to Local Governments.”
The Nasarawa State justice commissioner suggested that the matter be thoroughly examined in the course of the meeting to arrive at a mutual understanding on how states could navigate the challenges the judgment had thrown up.
He hailed the AGF for providing the needed leadership for the nation’s justice sector and driving necessary reforms required to ensure effective justice delivery.
Magaji assured the AGF of the states’ commissionera’ continued support and collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, stressed the need for continuous collaboration between the ministry and the states’ justice commissioners.
Jedy-Agba said such a collaboration and cooperation would prevent instances of unnecessary conflicts which mostly result in needless litigations between the states and the Federal Government.
She said the focus of this year’s meeting of BOSAG “is on adopting harmonised approach to addressing issues affecting criminal justice administration and protection of women, children and other vulnerable groups”.
Jedy-Agba said BOSAG was a critical platform for initiating and deliberating on ideas and policies that engender necessary reforms.
“I am pleased to say that our engagements so far have yielded results. We must, therefore, continue to promote institutional engagement and deliberations on contentious issues and other matters that affect the nation,” she said
