The Chairman of the Committee on review, Revision and Consolidation of laws of the federation of Nigeria (LFN), Mr Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, declared Monday that its committee has so far reviewed 697 laws out of the mandated 737.
He said the committee is now left with 40 outstanding to go.
Fapohunda, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti state, made the statement at the second retreat of the committee which held in Abuja.
They were inaugurated on October last year (2024), to harmonise Nigeria’s body of federal statutes.
The learned silk said the recognition of the enormity and importance of the assignment spurred members of various skills and qualifications to be on the same page and work hard towards submission of the draft in 2025.
He stated further that its approach has been inclusive and consultative including getting inputs from broad ways of stakeholders in order to deliver timely and meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“The committee mandate is to review 737 laws of the federation, but we have so far completed 697 with 40 more outstanding to go.
“Our approach has been inclusive and consultative with intention to engage NBA and other broadways of stakeholders. We are open and available for engagement and we are on course to deliver timely and meet the expectations of Nigerians,” Fapohunda said.
Speaking earlier in a goodwill message, the representative of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), Mr Toyin Badejogbon called for support for the review process, saying legislative development updates will enhance access to law.
Badejogbon said: “Our courts, research institutes, law reforms commission, citizens all need the law to engage meaningfully,” he said.
Making a remark while officially declaring the retreats open, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN expressed gratitude to the members of the committee for their selfless service and sacrifice to ensure that the project is executed efficiently and effectively.
This second retreat according to Fagbemi is a strategic consolidation of the nation’s law reform efforts.
