Any assessment of the extent of President Tinubu’s compliance with the rule of law within the last 12 months must be made in the context of five principles of his administration outlined by the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, in particular and against the background of the fundamentals of democracy upon which any democratic government ought to be assessed.
The five principles of the administration cover; policies and actions that will attract long-term local and foreign investments to Nigeria, including rebuilding the credibility and capacity of the Central Bank and a robust tax infrastructure to lessen the burden on businesses; policies involving difficult decisions, such as the removal of fuel subsidy and multiple exchange rates, always bearing in mind that such decisions will cause temporary pain and take measures to assuage those in pains; policies and programmes that will provide targeted relief and benefits by way of grants, education loans, consumer credit, cash transfers, food and fertilizer distribution, and so on; the need to make necessary adjustments to policies, programmes, and decisions, where necessary, to accommodate public response.
Long waiting periods for trials and significant backlog of cases hinder access to justice and prolong the suffering of victims and their families, alleged corruption, bribery, nepotism, and other forms of corruption undermine the integrity of the justice system, eroding trust and fairness, outdated facilities, insufficient funding, and inadequate personnel hinder the efficient delivery of justice services. Many citizens, especially in rural areas, face barriers to accessing justice due to distance, cost, and lack of awareness.
Reports of human rights abuses, including torture and unlawful detention, continue to surface, highlighting the need for reform, inadequate forensic capabilities, poor investigation techniques, and ineffective prosecution strategies contribute to miscarriage of justice, overcrowding, and poor prison conditions: unsanitary and inhumane conditions in prisons, as well as overcrowding, pose significant challenges.
Some also talked about politicians’ interference with court processes. What will you say about this?
