Speeches

Presentation Of The Report Of The Magistracy And Justice Sector Reform Committee

May 8, 2008 - Let me begin by acknowledging the industry and commitment displayed by the Chairman of the Magistracy and Justice Sector Reform Committee Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey and indeed all the distinguished members of the Committee. Preliminary indications suggest that the Committee’s report is thorough and highly professional.

The challenges of providing an efficient first level justice delivery system for a vastly urban population are considerable. We have embarked on preparing the machinery of justice for the future challenges as well as taking into consideration the unabated migration to Lagos State and its attendant effect of crime and civil disputes. We are determined to ensure a comprehensive reform of justice delivery at the Magistracy level that would provide a modern platform for resolving civil and criminal matters that confront the residents of Lagos State on a daily basis.

One particular area of civil litigation at the first level of justice is the notoriously common landlord and tenant disputes which is also notoriously difficult to resolve. One of the challenges that we face as a sub-national Government is to create conducive environment for the development of housing facilities in the State. While it is important to protect a tenant from illegal and forceful ejection, it is equally important to provide an efficient means of recovery of premises when the procedural requirements of the law designed to protect tenants have been complied with. An inefficient procedure for recovery of premises, if not addressed will constitute a disincentive to real estate investors. It is hoped that full implementation of the Report will address the perennial problems associated with landlord and tenant matters.

It is also hoped that the Magistracy will be a key instrumentality in enforcement of revenue and tax default in a summary and effective manner.

The success of reforms at this first level of justice delivery is fundamental to the success of our law and order agenda. This administration ardently believes that investing in law and order is a guarantee for the protection of the investment in infrastructure, development and well-being of the citizenry. Meaningful economic and social progress cannot take place in atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder. This belief has informed the law and order initiatives of this administration by strengthening an orderly society where the citizenry obey basic rules and regulations. We believe that common social disorder crimes create a conducive atmosphere for festering more serious and violent crimes. We have embarked upon a series of systematic activities designed to ensure better security of lives and property and prosecution of basic law and order offences. A reformed and reengineered Magistracy is an essential tool for this objective.

Our vision of a 21st Century first level justice delivery for Lagos State is one that meets the following international benchmarks:
(i) facilitates quick and summary disposition of civil and criminal cases;
(ii) provides a seamless and simplified procedure; and
(iii) guarantees creative and reformative justice.

It is my hope that the reform will provide the building blocks for the Lagos State Government to build a first class first level justice delivery system. Let me also point out that the infrastructure to support the reform process is already being implemented. We are at different stages of completion of twenty four Magistrate Court room buildings at Ajegunle, Igbosere Road, Ogba, Ikeja and a sub-urban prototype in Badagry and Ikorodu. The Lagos State Tenders Board also recently awarded the contract for the take off of a School of Stenography in Lagos State to train stenographers for the recording of court proceedings in Magistrate Courts in an efficient manner.

I assure the members of the Committee that Lagos State Government will carefully study the report and ensure that the suggestions contained therein are fully implemented without delay by a fully empowered implementation team working closely with the Judicial Service Commission.

Thank you.

Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN),
Executive Governor,
Lagos State