The Nigerian Bar Association has called for greater investment in the country’s military including providing support for civil-military coordination framework as well as a comprehensive endowment framework for critical military facilities and equipment.
In addition, the NBA recommended legislative intervention to address gaps in the Armed Forces Act and other legal frameworks, enhancing regulations and accountability for military personnel involved in low intensity conflicts.
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These resolutions among others were part of a communique issued on Saturday by NBA at the end of it’s Annual General Conference held in Abuja.
The communique which was endorsed by the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau SAN, Adesina Adegbite (General Secretary) harped on the need for practical strategies to address security concerns.
“These include community involvement in policing, youth engagement through job creation, enhanced regional cooperation, media sensitization, comprehensive police reforms, religious school regulation, strengthening the judiciary, and observance of human rights, the communique stated.
The adoption of State security forces, proper land management, international resource acquisition, and meticulous implementation of approved plans were also suggested by the NBA.
The Conference further urged citizens to actively contribute to combating insecurity by being vigilant and speaking up, while calling on the legal community to explore ways of enhancing Nigeria’s access to finance to support the fight against insecurity.
In addition, the NBA recommended that military training and operations incorporate human rights studies so that the military observes human rights principles and gain international credibility and uphold its constitutional role in safeguarding citizens.
Similarly, the NBA observed the need to reform the justice sector, saying it has become permanently a subject of national discussion since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
But “Achieving the desired justice system will be a process, not an event.
“Nevertheless, change must be accelerated to keep up with the expectations of Nigerians, particularly those of the poorest and most vulnerable communities.
“Such change must be properly planned and carefully managed” the NBA recommended.
More so, the Conference emphasized the importance of a strong, independent judiciary, just as it affirmed the need for an urgent upward review of judicial remuneration.
While recommending the separation of judicial remuneration from public sector including the removal of the remuneration of judicial officers from the purview of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), the NBA also recommended an independent salary scale for judicial officers.
“Conference recommends that urgent attention be paid to the plight of magistrates and other lower court judges.
“Conference recommends that the Federal and State governments extend financial support to pro bono schemes in Nigeria to bolster their effectiveness.
Among others, the NBA called for collaborative efforts between the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the provision of pro bono services and narrowing the gap in access to justice.
