Will-Making RSG Plans State Wide Campaign

To frontally address increasing cases of intra and inter-family quarrels over administration of estates upon death of the principals, the Rivers State Ministry of Justice is to launch an aggressive public enlightenment campaign in the 23 local government areas of the state.

The state Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Dame Mina Benebo made this known in Port Harcourt, yesterday, recounting success of the ministry’s edition of the campaign launched last week Friday.

 Mrs Benebo said it had become very important to enlighten members of the pubic on the advantage of making a will and choosing the right kind of next of kin, saying it was the surest security and stability anyone can bequeath to family particularly, spouses and children.

She decried the apparent phobia for will-making in most African cultures, saying the act of making a will did not necessarily imply pre-knowledge of one’s death, but an insurance against the unforeseen, because “death as a necessary end will come when it will come”

Dame Benebo said the task of  convincing Nigerians on the advantage of will making could be tasking but beneficial to families, a reason which she gave for planning the series of talks and seminars necessary to equip staff of the ministry.

The Tide recalled that the ministry’s edition which took place last Friday had contributions by experts in various fields.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ken Chikere in his remarks stated that the programme was to enlighten staff of the Ministry on the activities and functions of various departments in the Ministry.

 He urged all staff to see the public enlightenment as an opportunity to learn as no knowledge  was lost.       

  He enjoined law officers and other staff of the Ministry to educate others and encourage them to make wills while they are alive.

Four departments in the Ministry made presentations,  the Department of Estate Administration and Public Trustee, The Office of the Public Defender,

The Directorate for Citizens Rights and the Department of Environment and Ecology.

The Director of Estate Administration and Public Trustee, Mrs. E. P. Kingson in her presentation on “Will-Making and appointment of Next-of-Kin” urged the public to choose wisely.  Other presentations were made by the office of the Public Defender. The Director, Mrs. Esther Joe in her presentation on the  “functions of the Office of the Public Defender” stated that Police bail is free and people may report to the office of the Public Defender through the office of the Attorney-General where there is demand for money before Police bail is granted.

The Director, Directorate for Citizens Rights, represented by Mrs. Mma Agetua also spoke on the benefits of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, while the Department of Environment presented a paper titled “Environmental Law and Compliance”. The Director, Miss Queen Godwill, stated that everyone should be a vanguard for the environment.  She said we should use the environment in such a way that generations yet unborn may still benefit from it.