Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has affirmed that the present emerging realities in Nigeria necessitates periodic law revision exercises to enable justice sector to keep up with contemporary needs of the society.
The governor stated this in an address through his deputy, Hon. Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo on the occasion of the opening ceremony of a two-day conference on sustaining Justice Reforms in Enugu.
Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the dynamic nature of any human society makes it imperative that laws in operation in the society are revised from time to time in order to accommodate changing attitudes and new realities. “Law revision refers to the editorial process of incorporating amendments and carrying through other effects into legislation,” he said.
He observed that the periodic revision of laws constitutes an integral and indispensable part of reforms in the justice sector of any country or state.
The governor commended the State Ministry of Justice, the State Justice Reform Team (ESJRT) and the Justice for All Programme sponsored by the DFID for their cooperation and collaboration to kick-start the process of engaging stakeholders towards the revision of all the laws that are in operation in Enugu State.
Governor Ugwuanyi noted that the task is daunting and strenuous, yet it should be undertaken and accomplished “to enable us achieve the aspiration of carrying out holistic, realistic and effective reforms in justice sector for the benefit of all.”
Earlier in an address, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Melitus Eze said that the laws of Enugu State was last reviewed in 2004 with the assistance of DFID, adding that the present conference is being powered by the same organization.
He revealed that the essence of the conference is to strategize on the modalities for reviewing the laws of Enugu State 2004.
He added that the outcome of the conference would give the would be appointed Revisor the enabling framework to face the task of reviewing the laws of the state to align it with international best practices.
According to the justice commissioner, the conference will also assist him in putting the necessary statutory machinery in place which will authorize a further review of the laws of Enugu State. In an address presented by the facilitator of the conference, Chief Mrs. A.J. Offiah (SAN), revealed that the State Justice Reform Team has created an interconnectivity between major justice sector institutions in the state.
She observed that the Reform Team was created to address varied justice related issues and conceive remedial and proactive reforms.
