Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has stated that consistent implementation of judicial reforms is necessary to influence positive changes in Nigeria.
Osinbajo stated at the launch of “It Is Possible,” a book written by development expert Udo Jude Ilo.
Drawing from his experiences with judicial reform in Lagos State during his tenure as Attorney General in 1999, to illustrate his speech, which was the keynote at the event, Osinbajo highlighted two key challenges he faced: building a Ministry of Justice focused on citizens’ rights and reforming an administration of justice system plagued by delays and corruption.
“We decided that we had to implement a justice sector reform, and we engaged all possible stakeholders, especially civil society,” he recounted.
He recalled conducting a survey of 200 lawyers regarding the integrity of judges, where 89% stated that judges were “notoriously corrupt.”
Osinbajo explained, “At the meeting, I showed them the damning results of the survey and opened discussions on how to reverse the trend.”
He emphasized the need for adequate remuneration for judges, noting, “There was no way N67,000 could even scratch the surface.”
Osinbajo detailed how they improved judges’ salaries and introduced new policies for appointments and discipline.
“We agreed that we had to have proper competency tests for judges and mandatory training before new judges resume,” he stated.
The reforms led to the dismissal of 22 magistrates for corrupt practices and the appointment of 26 new judges, significantly transforming the Lagos judiciary.
Osinbajo articulated the key elements that made these reforms successful: clarity of objectives, strict adherence to a developed blueprint, building partnerships across civil society and institutions, creating a compelling narrative for stakeholders, and planning for sustainability.
He stated, “In 2007, we conducted another survey of lawyers practicing in the High Court of Lagos and found 0% now said there was corruption! A dramatic change.”
Despite acknowledging that challenges remain in the judicial system, he asserted, “The administration of the justice system in Lagos is still the gold standard for state judiciaries.”
He highlighted that the reality of bringing about real change is humbling and requires collaboration and synergy among various stakeholders.
Osinbajo concluded by highlighting the importance of positively influencing change, stating, “If we do not intentionally and, positively influence it, there will be change anyway; only that the change could be disastrous”
He lauded the primer as a significant contribution to understanding the complexities of instigating and managing change in Nigeria.
“This primer helps our understanding greatly but more importantly gives hope,” he affirmed.
He commended Jude for his dedication and hard work, expressing anticipation for further contributions from Thoughts and Mace Advisory, which he described as essential for fostering a vibrant ecosystem for change in Africa, adding, “We look forward to more of these kinds of efforts.”
Osinbajo, in his remarks, expounded on the challenges facing Nigeria and the pathways to meaningful change, emphasising the necessity for collaboration, clarity, and sustained efforts in the pursuit of reform.
According to the former VP, “there are no hard and fast rules to influencing change” as he unveiled the book “It is Possible: Influencing Change in Nigeria”-A Primer, on Monday, October 14, 2024.
During his keynote address at the event held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Osinbajo expressed his delight in being part of the project, thanking the author, Jude, whom he described as a brother, and his team for the invitation.
“Jude has always been about big ideas and constantly pushing for bold and new approaches to addressing the challenges facing Africa and Nigeria,” Osinbajo remarked.
He humorously reflected on the concept of a “primer,” noting, “This is the problem with smart people like Jude; they assume that everyone knows what they are talking about.”
He shared a story from his early teaching days, illustrating the importance of clear communication and understanding foundational concepts.
“I have learnt my lessons the hard way,” he said, recalling a tutorial where students misunderstood the “eggshell principle” in criminal law.
Elaborating on the term, Osinbajo stated, “A primer is a basic introductory text, a book, or an article that tries to simplify or explain a particular subject.”
He explained that the primer being launched seeks to elucidate how to influence change in Nigeria.
