The Committee for the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation has so far reviewed a total of 737 laws as part of its ongoing effort to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework.
Chairman of the committee, Mr Olowale Fapohunda, SAN, made this known on Monday during the committee’s second retreat held in Abuja. He noted that while 737 laws have been reviewed, the committee is still working on 697 laws, with 40 others pending.
Fapohunda, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, said the 46-member committee is divided into 14 working groups, and the retreat provided an opportunity to assess progress, address challenges, and chart the way forward.
“We are committed to submitting the draft to the Attorney General by September 2025,” he stated, emphasizing the committee’s inclusive and consultative approach. He added that stakeholders, including the Nigerian Bar Association, were being actively engaged in the process.
In his remarks, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised the committee’s dedication, describing the retreat as a strategic step in consolidating national law reform efforts.
“The call to be part of this assignment is a call to impact the lives of individuals, government, and businesses across the country,” Fagbemi said. “The work of this committee is key to harmonising and modernising Nigeria’s federal laws.”
Also speaking, Mr Toyin Badejogbon, representative of the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) programme, reiterated the importance of legislative development in improving access to justice and strengthening legal institutions.
Badejogbon highlighted RoLAC’s support for reforms that ensure justice for women, children, and persons with disabilities, as well as its collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.
Starreporters gathered that the committee, inaugurated in October 2024, was mandated to review, update, and consolidate all outdated laws in Nigeria. Its terms of reference include coordinating the compilation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN) up to 2024, editing and proofreading legislation, identifying omitted or redundant laws from the 2004 LFN edition, and merging related laws to eliminate duplication. (NAN)