NBA’s 54th conference opens in Owerri, lawyers call for Nigeria stock taking house’
The 54th annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) opened in Owerri, Imo State capital Monday, with Bar officials and speakers calling for a critical stock taking for Nigeria nationhood, having attained 100 years of its amalgamation.
With the theme: “Nigeria: 100 Years After,” the NBA president, Okey Wali said members are gathered to listen to, and deliberate on the conference’s keynote speaker, George Amale Kwanashie, a History professor, whose delivery would dwell on Nigeria’s biggest problem: corruption or impunity at the showcase session.
Wali said the plenary sessions for three days would dwell on topics such as: “Nigeria, any Hope for an Industrial Revolution” and “Appointment, Remuneration and Discipline of Judges: the Constitutional Role of the National Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission.”
He informed of the sections on Legal Practice (SPL), which would dwell on successful succession of law firms; Business Law (SBL), chaired by Gbenga Oyebode, where participants would look at the Contributory Pension Scheme as a catalyst for economic development of Nigeria, and Providing affordable housing in Nigeria: bridging the funding gap. Others are: Public Interest/Development Law (SPIDEL) and various interests of Young Lawyers, Women, Media Lawyers, Armed Forces Lawyers, Corporate Counsel, among others.
Speaking at the opening session on the “Legal profession: a 100 years after,” President Goodluck Jonathan said the theme was quite apt, considering Nigeria’s 100 years of existence; saying that his administration has strove to promote political pluralism and the right of the people to determine how they should be governed.
The President said the just concluded National Conference has provided a veritable platform for Nigerians to discuss how they want to live together as a nation and the principles that should govern our Federation.
He said government has focused on bettering the electoral process, through credible elections, which has been sign-posted by two free and fair governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states.
President Jonathan regretted that the NBA did not participate in the National Conference as a professional body; saying that the Bar should play a strong role in ensuring the supremacy of the rule of law.
President Jonathan said the Federal Government has covered enough grounds in reviewing the operational modalities of the anti-corruption and money laundering agencies – the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the United Nations convention against corruption. He said this would be presented to the executive council for approval.
The President equally informed that the Federal Government under his administration has implemented over 90 per cent of the Justice sector reforms, with a strategy plan around 8-key objectives.
He called on the National Assembly to work to pass the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill before the end of the life the present National Assembly.
The Speakers of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, assured of the lower chamber’s commitment in passing bills that are critical to the development of Nigeria.
While former head of state, and chairman of the 54th NBA conference, Yakubu Gowon encouraged the Bar to join in formulating a new legal system for Nigeria’s next 100 years.
But, Governor Rochas Okorocha got the hall heated up with a moving speech when he lamented that Nigeria was still battling with provision of basic issues of life like affordable education, healthcare, infrastructure like roads, water, electricity, employment creation and industrialization 100 years after it was proclaimed a nation by Frederick Lugard in 1914.
Okorocha lamented that bad leadership has bedeviled Nigeria for 100 years, with more devastating effects than the current Ebola virus, which he said can annihilate a whole generation; whereas Ebola virus disease has only killed two thousand people since its eruption in 1976.
The Imo governor said, the Owerri NBA conference was quite remarkable, as it was a centenary conference; and called on the Bar to spearhead the formulation of laws that would govern Nigeria for next 100 years.
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