President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure that all actions of government conform to the Rule of Law.
Jonathan said while declaring open the Centenary Law Summit in Abuja that government would continue to ensure that human rights norms were strictly observed in the ongoing fight against terror in the country.
“Let me use this opportunity to reiterate the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that human right norms are dully observed and the freedom and liberty of the people are not unduly abridged in our war against terror.
“The armed forces and other security personnel dealing with insurgencies and other security challenges in the states where state of emergency had been declared had been given orders to ensure that they discharge their duties with conformity with the rule of engagements. ”
According to him, since law is an instrument for social engineering and political transformation, such should be strictly adhered to by all organs of government.
He challenged the managers of the nation’s judiciary to constantly review the country’s laws, “since it remains an institution that holds the key of sustaining the confidence of the people in the Rule of Law”.
Jonathan further enjoined the judiciary to always give credible and well-reasoned judgments to enhance social justice and fairness.
The President expressed delight over the ongoing efforts by the Chief Justice of Nigeria to sanitise the nation’s judicial system.
“We welcome the efforts being made by the National Judicial Council under the able and strong leadership of the Chief Justice of this great country, Honourable Justice Mukhtar. We believe that you can sanitise the judicial system.”
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, narrated the giant strides recorded in the nation’s legal profession.
She also reiterated her commitment to ensure Zero Tolerance to corruption and unethical practices in the judiciary.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Bello Adoke, said relevant bodies with the legal profession had intensified efforts towards early completion of the on-going legal reforms in the country.
President Jonathan presented to the public a publication titled; Nigeria: A Century of Constitutional Evolution 1914-2014.
The publication was written by the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies.
The three-day summit will witness various paper presentations which include Legislations and Transformative Governance; Rule of Law and Transformation Agenda; Power and Transformation Philosophy of Government and State Governors as partners in Transformation Agenda.
Other topics to be discussed at the summit are; “Law, Good Governance and Security“; “Police and Enforcement of Law and Order“; “Law and Terrorism and International Security and Human Rights Concerns“.
