Wike to professional bodies: Shift focus from criticism to reforms

Nyesom Wike, Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has urged professional bodies to prioritise reforms and institutional development over persistent criticism of government policies.

Wike made the call on Tuesday while receiving members of the Body of Benchers, led by Albert Akpomudje, its chairman, at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja.

The minister said professional associations would achieve greater impact by pursuing reforms and infrastructure development that benefit their members, rather than focusing solely on public criticism of government actions.

According to him, leaders of professional bodies should be remembered for the initiatives and projects they facilitated during their tenure.

“If you are president of an association and all you do is attend television programmes to criticise the government, that is not enough,” Wike said.

He added that excessive criticism without tangible contributions to the advancement of a profession raises questions about leadership legacy and effectiveness.

Wike commended successive leaderships of the Body of Benchers for engaging constructively with government to improve facilities and infrastructure within the legal profession.

“You are not the first chairman of the Body of Benchers, but you came with requests that will improve the institution and open up the area for everybody. That is leadership,” he said.

The minister described constructive criticism as necessary in governance but cautioned against what he termed “destructive criticism” that fails to acknowledge positive government interventions.

He also defended government support for judicial officers, particularly the provision of housing and related infrastructure, noting that such interventions strengthen institutions rather than compromise their independence.

Wike disclosed that the annex building of the Body of Benchers under the current administration was nearing completion and would be delivered by June.

He further stated that the access road linking the Nigerian Law School and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Academy corridor was about 98 percent completed.

The minister also approved a request for the construction of an access road to the Body of Benchers annex building and directed relevant officials of the FCT Administration to incorporate the project into ongoing works.

Earlier, Akpomudje commended the FCT Administration for ongoing infrastructural projects across Abuja, particularly those supporting the legal profession.

He cited the completion of the Body of Benchers annex building, ongoing construction of a fire service station, and road infrastructure within the complex as evidence of the administration’s commitment to development.

“Roads are being constructed and upgraded daily both in the city centre and rural areas. Indeed, this is what governance should be,” he said.

Akpomudje added that sustained collaboration among the executive, legislature and judiciary remained critical to strengthening democratic institutions and improving access to justice in Nigeria.