Abuja (Nigeria): The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Federal and State Governments to prioritise the security and welfare of citizens.
The NBA also said that the survival of democracy depended on the protection of lives, property, and social justice.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said this on Monday in Abuja during a post-Annual General Conference (AGC) media briefing.
Osigwe, who presented the communiqué of the Association’s 65th Annual General Conference (AGC), held recently in Enugu from August 23 to 28, expressed concern over the widening inequality, insecurity, and weak governance structures that, according to him, threaten Nigeria’s peace and stability.
He urged the Federal and State Governments to ensure the full implementation of the minimum wage, invest in public infrastructure, and provide welfare systems that would support the poor and vulnerable.
He pledged that the Association would lead by example and encourage law firms to pay their staff above the statutory minimum wage.
Osigwe further advised security agencies to be proactive in addressing the misuse of social media for inciting hate or promoting terrorism, rather than reacting only when political figures were targeted.
“Persons who use social media to promote ethnic hatred or terrorism must be held accountable, no matter who they are or where they are,” he said.
The NBA president also urged the government at various levels to strengthen healthcare delivery, address unemployment, and close the gap between the affluent and the underprivileged.
Speaking on judicial and legal reforms, he noted that many Nigerian laws were outdated and no longer reflected present-day realities.
He assured that the NBA would lead advocacy for reforms to modernise the legal system, expand access to justice through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and entrench the rule of law.
He emphasised that democracy cannot thrive when people with low incomes are denied access to justice due to financial constraints.
He added that the legal profession must guide society towards reform, equity, and fairness.
On governance and accountability, Osigwe noted that building strong institutions remained critical to safeguarding citizens’ rights.
“Good governance must be measured by how effectively government policies translate into improved welfare, reduced poverty, and protection of human dignity,” he said.