After 20 Years, Tinubu’s Government Orders Review Of Nigeria’s Laws

The federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has initiated a process to review and update Nigeria’s legal framework. On Thursday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), inaugurated a committee tasked with conducting the review.....Read Full Article>>

According to reports, the last comprehensive review of Nigeria’s laws occurred in 2004. Fagbemi emphasized that this effort aligns with President Tinubu’s broader agenda of upholding the rule of law and improving access to justice, with the ultimate goal of fostering socio-economic development and advancing legal reforms.

He expressed concern over the government’s failure to update the laws of the Federation since 2004, which has led to issues of clarity, predictability, and uniformity in the country’s legal system.

“The primary role of law is to serve public interest, regulate human behavior, and manage interactions between corporate entities. As society evolves, so must the law, which is why continuous reform is essential to address modern socio-economic issues, resolve outdated provisions, and improve justice administration,” Fagbemi stated.

He noted that the review is long overdue and necessary to incorporate legislative developments—including repeals, amendments, and new enactments—that have occurred since 2004.

The committee, chaired by Olawale Fapohunda (SAN) and co-chaired by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission’s chairperson, Prof. Jummai Audi, has been given six months to complete its work. The committee will focus on identifying outdated laws, harmonizing conflicting statutes, and ensuring that the legal framework meets contemporary needs.

The committee’s specific objectives include:

• Collaborating with relevant government agencies to harmonize Nigeria’s laws up to 2024.
• Reviewing, editing, and proofing all relevant legislation.
• Updating the legal framework to include any laws enacted since the 2004 edition.
• Identifying outdated or redundant laws that need to be repealed.
• Merging laws on similar issues to eliminate redundancy.
• Submitting a comprehensive report of findings to the Attorney General.

The AGF emphasized that the committee’s work is critical in ensuring Nigeria’s laws are up to date, functional, and aligned with modern realities.