Abuja: The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) have reiterated their commitment to advance community-based justice reforms. They made the commitment at a stakeholder dialogue on People-Centred Justice (PCJ) held in Abuja, which included Attorneys General from the 36 states of the federation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NGF Director-General, Abdulateef Shittu, emphasized the crucial role of Attorneys General in driving these reforms. He noted their importance in facilitating the process within their respective states. “Today’s dialogue is designed to enable states to share ideas, experiences, and lessons on justice sector reforms. We want to see justice not just as a sector, but as a driver of peace, development, and trust,” Shittu stated, highlighting that existing peace-building commissions in Plateau, Kaduna, and Adamawa are already demonstrating the benefits of this approach.
Ms. Ijeoma Nwafor, the HiiL Country Representative, stressed the significance of tangible outcomes in justice reform. She mentioned that justice reforms often face challenges in securing funding due to perceived intangibility of outcomes. “With people-centred justice, we can demonstrate real impact. Our tools, guidelines, pilot programmes, and strategy documents show donors and policymakers that justice can be measured, tracked, and improved,” Nwafor explained. She also noted the importance of integrating informal justice mechanisms into the formal system, especially in resolving land disputes more efficiently.
Prof. Ben Odoh, Chairman of the Body of State Attorneys General and Attorney General of Ebonyi State, reflected on the evolution of Nigeria’s justice system. He remarked on the shift from a retributive Administration of Criminal Justice Act to a system focused on reconciliation, restoration, reintegration, and re-institution. “That alone is a holistic people-centred system,” he added.
Justice Gboyega Ogunfowora, a High Court judge in Ogun, underscored the necessity of strengthening informal justice mechanisms. He emphasized that empowering communities can reduce the burden on courts and make justice more immediate and meaningful.
Participants at the dialogue reinforced the need for collaboration across ministries, agencies, and communities to tailor justice reforms to local realities. They expressed their commitment to taking these lessons back to their states and implementing reforms that prioritize citizens’ everyday justice needs.
The workshop, reported by News Agency of Nigeria, laid the groundwork for collaborative, inclusive, and accessible justice solutions in Nigeria. It followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NGF and HiiL, which formalized their shared vision to transform Nigeria’s justice landscape. Central to the discussions was HiiL’s Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) survey, which sheds light on the scale of unresolved justice problems across the country.