Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), recently highlighted the Supreme Court’s historic decision to grant full financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments, describing it as a significant step toward enhancing local governance, security, and human rights.
Speaking at the 17th anniversary of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in Abuja, Fagbemi noted that local governments, being closest to the grassroots, had been stifled by state governors’ control for over two decades, impairing their effectiveness. He praised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for taking decisive action to address this issue by bringing it before the Supreme Court. The landmark judgment, Fagbemi asserted, will improve local governance and significantly bolster security and access to human rights.
“The administration, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, recognized the critical link between governance, security, and human rights, and made a bold move to seek the Supreme Court’s intervention. This pivotal judgment will enhance local governance and substantially improve security and human rights,” Fagbemi stated.
He stressed the vital connection between governance, security, and human rights for societal progress, urging the exploration of these links to serve citizens better and protect their rights. Fagbemi pointed out that effective governance necessitates collaboration among all branches of government, warning that poor governance can lead to rights erosion and injustice. He also highlighted the judiciary’s role and the recent passage of the Minimum Wage Bill as key measures that could address underlying issues like poverty and unemployment, which contribute to insecurity.
“Without security, rights such as freedom of movement, expression, and association cannot be enjoyed. However, security measures must be balanced with respect for human rights. Excessive force, arbitrary detentions, and abuses undermine our democratic foundations,” Fagbemi emphasized.
He cautioned law enforcement against detaining individuals beyond constitutional limits, warning of penalties for breaches. “Law enforcement agents must respect the law and not detain people beyond reasonable time as stipulated in Section 35 of the Constitution. Due diligence must be exercised before arrests, and detentions beyond constitutional or court-ordered time frames will no longer be tolerated,” he warned.
Fagbemi reaffirmed his commitment to protecting individual rights and ensuring justice, announcing the creation of a Department of Citizens Rights within the Federal Ministry of Justice to handle complaints. He also highlighted recent advancements like the 2024-2025 Strategic Action Plan by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee and the signing of the Practice Direction and Guidelines on Remanding Proceedings by the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf.
“These milestones in refining the remand system demonstrate our dedication to protecting suspects’ rights and administering justice promptly. In the same spirit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exempted the National Human Rights Commission Board from the dissolution of federal agency boards,” Fagbemi concluded.
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