…As He Hands Over 7 Operational Vehicles To The School And Commences Construction Of Schools’ Staff Quarters
1. Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has called for increased funding for the Nigerian Law School.
2. The FCT Minister made this call in Abuja on Monday, December 9, 2024, during the flag-off of the construction of 10 staff quarters and presentation of 7 operational vehicles for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari.
3. Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, the Minister said that legal institutions could do a lot more in providing infrastructure if adequately funded and called for the amendment of the TETFUND Act to include the Nigerian Law School as a fund beneficiary.
4. He said, “I want to say it is definitely not late for the amendment of the TETFUND so that the Nigerian Law School can be included in the funding. This is a professional training school.
5. “We will give you all the necessary support to amend this Fund so that the Law School can benefit from the intervention fund. If that happens, I’m sure you will see that the difference will be clear. They will have money to provide infrastructure.”
6. Speaking on the construction of staff housing for the school by the FCT Administration, the Minister said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the directive to ensure that infrastructure is provided for the Nigerian Law School to improve its infrastructural conditions.
7. He said there was nothing wrong with providing basic infrastructure for the school as it belonged to the federal government.
8. The Minister said, “Let me say clearly that the federal government owns this school, and there is nothing wrong with the federal government trying to provide basic infrastructure to uplift the school.
9. “It is the responsibility of the Federal Government and Mr. President mandated it, that he has heard of the decay in infrastructure because there was no fund for the Ministry of Justice, down to the Council of Legal Education; he directed that I should make sure that this infrastructure is providing
10. The Minister said the project would be completed within 8 months and assured the contractor of adequate funding.
11. Earlier in his remarks, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Isa Hayyatu Chiroma, said the construction of staff quarters and provision of utility vehicles will assist the school in fulfilling its mandate.
12. The DG recalled that the FCT Minister had earlier pledged to assist the school during an earlier visit to the Minister’s office, describing the flag-off exercise and handing over of the operational vehicles as a promise kept.
13. Prof. Ciroma acknowledged the FCT Minister’s other contributions to the growth and development of the Nigerian judiciary, especially in the provision of infrastructure, saying that they are legacy projects that will continue to speak for Barr. Nyesom Wike’s developmental strides in the country.
14. He said, “Posterity will be kind to you when the history of legal education and justice sector is written in Nigeria”.
15. Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), thanked President Tinubu for approving the intervention by the FCT Administration to construct residential quarters for the Nigerian Law School. He said the accommodation, when completed, will go a long way in providing a conducive environment for the academic and administrative staff of the school to discharge their duties effectively.
16. Chief Ngige (SAN) stressed that the development has brought psychological upliftment to the management of the Nigerian Law School whom, he said, were still agonizing over the recent eviction of 20 academic and administrative staff of the School from their official residence in Lagos.
17. The Chairman, CLE, while also thanking the FCT Minister for the total and unflinching support given to the Council of Legal Education, added that history will record Barr. Nyesom Wike as the most significant contributor to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria, particularly in infrastructure development.
ANTHONY OGUNLEYE
DIRECTOR, PRESS
(OFFICE OF THE HON. MINISTER)
09/12/2024
