By Sarah NEGEDU
To address the infrastructural deficits across the Nigeria Law Schools in the country, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has called for the inclusion of Nigerian Law Schools as beneficiaries of Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, interventions.
The Attorney General made the appeal on Monday, during the flag off ceremony for the construction of 10 blocks of 4-bedroom Staff Quarters at the Nigeria Law School, Bwari Campus, to be sponsored by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
He called for the ammendment of the TETFund Act, to recognise specialised institutions like the Nigerian Law Schools, insisting that the time had come for the institution to be treated as a university.
He said, “One thing about the Nigerian Law School may be because of the placement; you can’t really place it as a university or as an ordinary institution.
“I said this because if you look at the law setting up the TETFund, the Nigerian Law School is not included and I think the time has come that amendment should be made to include the Nigerian Law School as a university that can benefit from TETFund. There are other institutions but I think Nigerian Law School is special.”
Fagbemi therefore urged public spirited individuals to come to the aide of the law schools and address some of their infrastructural challenges.
“The issue of accommodation is very important. If the staff do not have where they will sleep, it will affect their minds and the quality of the students they turn out”, he added.
Responding, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, agreed that the TETFund Act be amended to enable the Nigerian Law School benefit from the special intervention fund, as the institution was a professional training school.
According to the minister, “It’s getting too late for the amendment of the TETFund in order for the Nigeria Law School to be included for the funding. This is a professional training school.
“So, we will give you all the necessary support that TETFund should be amended for the Law School to benefit from this special intervention fund. If that happens, I am sure you will see that the difference would be clear because they would have money to provide infrastructure. Go and check their budget, you will laugh”.
Wike, also took a swipe at his critics, saying there was nothing wrong for the federal government to provide facilities and infrastructure for the institutions.
“This school is owned by the federal government. There’s nothing wrong with the federal government trying to provide facilities for the school. Mr. President mandated me to provide these facilities.
“When I came for the last call to bar, I saw very bad buildings, I couldn’t believe it; where lawyers are being trained? We have included funds in the 2025 budget for two hostels in the Law School, one for males and another for females.
“Anybody angry with what I am doing for the judiciary should wait for their turn to do for their profession.”
On his part, the chairman of Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo, appreciated the minister for his antecedents and contributions to the legal profession, saying, “History will write your name in gold at the appropriate time. Wike will be one of those who will never be forgotten for what he’s doing.”
