As President Bola Tinubu completes his second year in office, legal professionals in Ibadan have voiced varying opinions about the state of Nigeria’s judiciary at both federal and state levels.
In a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the lawyers assessed how the justice system has fared under the current administration and what more needs to be done.
Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan Branch, acknowledged that the federal government has been grappling with serious economic challenges but insisted that improvements in the justice sector are still urgently needed.
“Citizens are dealing with delayed court processes, economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment. There’s a clear need for the government to do more in ensuring people have access to swift and fair justice,” he said.
He noted that the judiciary in Oyo State is still under-resourced.
According to him, many magistrates lack basic working tools, such as official vehicles. Some who recently received vehicles are reportedly being harassed by the supplier over unpaid bills by the government.
“In addition to this, deductions are being made from the salaries of magistrates, Grade A Customary Court Presidents, and other judiciary workers due to funding shortfalls,” he added.
Lawal called on the state government to take urgent steps to support the judiciary and ensure it can function independently.
He also urged Governor Seyi Makinde to reconstitute the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), which was dissolved last year and has not yet been replaced.
Speaking further, another lawyer, Mr. Adeyemi Okunade, reflected on Nigeria’s 26 years of uninterrupted democracy, acknowledging improvements in electoral transparency but pointing out that challenges such as corruption and insecurity remain.
He said the Tinubu administration has taken notable steps, including increasing budgetary support for the judiciary in 2024, restoring the Supreme Court to its full capacity of 21 justices, and proposing a salary raise for judicial officers, which is currently under legislative consideration.
On the state level, Okunade credited Governor Makinde for promoting judicial independence since taking office in 2019.
He highlighted initiatives such as the creation of the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency, which aims to reinforce the integrity of the legal system.
However, he expressed concern over the high number of inmates awaiting trial and the continued congestion in correctional facilities.
He suggested amending the constitution to allow states to manage their own prison systems, a move he believes could ease the burden on federal institutions.