The Federal government of Nigeria has launched an initiative to review update and consolidate outdated laws, aiming to align them with contemporary needs and promote socio-economic growth.
The inauguration took place in Abuja on Thursday, with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, leading the proceedings on behalf of the government.
The newly formed committee, comprising leading legal experts from diverse fields, has been tasked with completing the revision within six months. This move is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader agenda to advance legal reforms, uphold the rule of law, and ensure greater access to justice in Nigeria.
During the inauguration, Prince Fagbemi urged the committee members to carry out their task with precision and diligence, stressing the need to update and harmonise the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) that have remained largely untouched since 2004. He highlighted the importance of bringing the country’s legal framework in line with modern realities, resolving inconsistencies, and ensuring clarity across the legal system.
“This project is particularly dear to my heart,our inability to update the Laws of the Federation since 2004 has been a concern, and it is essential to create a body of laws that is predictable, consistent, and uniform. The law must evolve with societal changes to effectively regulate human behaviour and corporate interactions.”
He further noted that the review was necessary to attract socio-economic growth and investment, as well as to ensure that the legal system adapts to technological advancements. He stressed that the initiative aims to eliminate redundancy in the legal framework by identifying outdated laws and harmonising conflicting statutes.
The committee is chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, and co-chaired by Professor Jummai Audi, Chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission. Their responsibilities include the compilation and collation of all legislative developments up to 2024, coordination with relevant government agencies to harmonise the laws, and editing and proofreading the final documents.
The AGF outlined the committee’s key tasks, which include: updating legislation not covered in the 2004 LFN edition, identifying obsolete or redundant laws for repeal, and merging related laws to streamline the legal framework. The committee is also expected to submit a comprehensive report of its findings to the AGF upon completion of the project.
Prince Fagbemi expressed gratitude to the leadership of the National Assembly, the Nigeria Law Reform Commission, and the Nigerian Institute for Advanced Legal Studies for their support of the initiative. He reassured the committee of the Federal Ministry of Justice’s commitment to providing institutional backing throughout the review process.
“This committee has been carefully constituted with individuals who bring extensive professional experience and technical expertise,” Fagbemi remarked. “I thank you all for your willingness to serve our nation in this capacity, and I encourage you to work with synergy and patriotism to meet the six-month timeline.”
The federal government has high hopes for the successful completion of the project, with Fagbemi expressing optimism about receiving the updated draft volumes of the Laws of the Federation 2024, which would mark a significant milestone in Nigeria’s legal reform efforts.
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