Not fewer than 20 lawyers from across the country have been inaugurated into the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP Volunteer Lawyers’ Network to expand the organisation’s scope.
Speaking at the inauguration, SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the members have committed to partner with SERAP in its cause of socio-economic rights and in making public officers accountable to constitutional provisions.
He noted that 20 lawyers have committed themselves as members of the Network from across the geo-political zones of the country.
Oluwadare said the initiative is targeted at expanding the scope of group’s work, and to get the important part of citizens, members of the Bar, the lawyers to also join and advocate for good governance in Nigeria.
The Network, according to Oluwadare, will be working as lawyers to file public interest litigations if the need arises, formulate legal issues using their skills and expertise for good governance.
The Deputy Director also noted that lack of adherence to legal frameworks is one of the problems the country is facing, even as he stressed that corruption is hindering socio-economic rights.
“It is not that we don’t have laws, lawyers as part of the citizenry are needed to amplify them.”
Expressing optimism, he underscores the roles of strategic litigations, citizens engagement, research and advocacy in its works.
“Our plan is to enforce those rights in our laws and draw attention to these rights.”
“SERAP Volunteer Lawyers’ Network is a team of legal practitioners to drive the aims of strategic litigations, to have that spread across Nigeria, and must be non-partisans.
“In your respective jurisdiction, we may have to call on you.
“We aim to interact with you on your legal knowledge and skills to drive the cause or issues.”
Kehinde Oyewunmi, SERAP Legal Adviser, advised that lawyers who will be part of the network will advance the group’s cause and not for personal interest but for public good.
He noted, “We expect that members have it in mind that they are non-partisan in their work and they would monitor activities around human rights.
