A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Afam Osigwe, has been sworn in as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Osigwe will serve alongside other newly sworn-in national officers for the next two years, succeeding the immediate past president, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN.
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Making his inaugural speech in Lagos on Thursday, Osigwe said, “Taking cognisance of the need to push for reforms in the judicial sector, particularly coming on the heels of the communique issued at the end of the Justice Sector Reform Conference convoked by the Honourable Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Price Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, we shall establish a committee in this regard to spearhead the NBA advocacy for justice sector reforms.
“Under my watch, the NBA shall hold Governments at all levels accountable, including and especially the Federal and State Governments.
“We will work towards ensuring that Government policies and programmes meet the yearnings and aspirations of our people, as they relate to the provision of good governance, transparency in financial expenditures, reducing drastically the cost of governance and ensuring that the welfare of our people is given topmost priority.
“We will strive to ensure that Government responds appropriately to the challenges of security of lives and properties, respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms, the provision of gainful employment and all the basic amenities of life, especially food, shelter, clothing, qualitative and affordable education, healthcare, and other infrastructure as well as access to justice.”
Osigwe added that the NBA would ensure speedy issuance of stamp and seal and promised to oversee an amendment in the NBA constitution to accommodate current developments, setting up a committee to ensure a smooth review of the constitution.
He also announced that his administration would set up a local government monitoring committee to ensure strict compliance with the Supreme Court Judgement on local government autonomy.