Insecurity: Malami Urges Collaboration Between States, FG
By Abdullahi Ahmad Bamalli
The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, says adequate collaboration between States and Federal government in terms of Security and prosecution of offenders will put an end to insecurity.
Malami made the call in his opening remarks at the conference of Attorneys-General in Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said, “The fight against insecurity should not be left to the Federal Government especially for offences falling within the jurisdiction of the States.
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“The instant Conference should also afford us the opportunity to determine the milestone we have been able to cover on curbing Sexual and Gender Based Violence since our previous commitments were made in 2017.
”In our quest to implement reforms in the administration of justice, a critical determinant factor remains adequate funding for the judiciary which also entails compliance with the provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy for the judiciary and State legislatures, as a mark of our true and holistic commitment to the ideals of democracy, good governance and the rule of law.
He noted that the conference with the theme `Enhancing Synergy Between the Federal and State Governments in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria” underpinned one of the major anchors of Nigeria’s democratic life.
“Our enviable positions as Chief Law Officers automatically confers on us the status of stakeholders in the administration of both civil and criminal justice in Nigeria.
“With this prestigious position also comes the onerous responsibility of ensuring that all institutions and officers of the state contribute their quota to ensuring that our legal system meets the expectations and desires of our citizens for the justice sector.
“In the discharge of our responsibilities as Chief Law Officers, we should always be guided by the abiding framework under the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, as enunciated under Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which covers every facet of governance and our national life’’.
He noted that the structure and system of governance of the Federation are not oblivious of the possibility of having genuine disputes and frictions among the federating units, national and sub-national governments.
“In spite of this, our shared values and common resources also make collaboration and mutual relationships absolutely necessary and fundamental.
“Therefore, this august body of Attorneys-General occupies a critical position in driving national unity and development.
“We need to underplay the culture of mutual mistrust between the Federal and State Governments, in order to promote and enhance a symbiotic relationship between the Federal and State Governments.
“Our agenda here is to examine some of the issues militating against the desired synergy in the administration of justice and proffer practical ways forward.
“While we presently have quite a number of such issues at different stages of judicial adjudication; it is not out of place if we jointly take a second look at these issues, with a view to achieving mutual resolution without prejudice to subsisting legal rights’’.
Malami said that synergy will sustain brotherliness, bring professional calling to bear on governance and reduce tension or frictions.
