DG Lauds New Powers Of Legal Aid Council

The Director General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel, has lauded the legislature and the executive for extending the powers of the council to include the de-congestion of prisons.

Bob-Manuel told  our correspondent in Abuja on Thursday that the approval of the new mandate indicated that the present administration was sensitive to the needs of the common people.

“The enhanced mandate of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, as approved by the National Assembly and endorsed by the president is an indication that government is sensitive to the yearnings of the electorate.

“We now have the powers among other things to help in de-congesting prisons across the country.

“With this development, there is no doubt that the Transformation Agenda of Mr President has positive impact on the common people,” she said.

The director-general said that plans had commenced, to sensitise citizens on the need to seek free legal assistance in the new areas being covered by the council.

“We have commenced plans to carry out sensitisation campaigns in all the states of the federation, as well as various local government areas.

“This will include road shows and visit to various communities.

“We want to interact with the indigentes in the society, and let them know that they have the right to seek free legal services irrespective of their status,” she said.

She, however, called for better funding and provision of adequate infrastructure for effective service delivery.

Our correspondent reports that the Chairman House Committee on Justice, Rep. Ali Ahmad, during a working visit to the headquarters of the Legal Aid Council in Abuja on Monday regretted the poor funding of the council. He said that the current “envelope system” in budgetary appropriation did not give room for a critical agency like Legal Aid Council, to work effectively. He added that the system had resulted in poor funding of the council and promised to recommend to Mr President to improve  the funding of the organisation in the 2013 budget.