… Urges citizens to hold leaders accountable
The Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) has unveiled two publications: ‘Shaping Nigeria’s Future: Critical Governance Issues for 2024 and Beyond’; and the ‘Simplified Manual on Environmental Justice in Nigeria.’
It also urged the Nigerian citizens to always hold their leaders accountable.
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Speaking at the event, Collins Okeke, associate partner, OAL, said that both publications aimed to raise awareness about pressing issues facing Nigeria, such as governance challenges and environmental injustice, and to encourage public engagement and dialogue on these topics.
“At OAL, we believe it is imperative to address the most pressing governance challenges facing our nation. ‘Shaping Nigeria’s Future: Critical Governance Issues for 2024 and Beyond’ provides an in-depth analysis of ten key areas: political, constitutional, regulatory, administrative, electoral, legal, judicial, economic, trade, and maritime governance.
“The report highlights the need for the National Assembly to work closely with the Executive to develop a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) implementation plan that prioritises revenue generation, job creation, poverty reduction, and economic growth.
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“It also emphasizes the importance of reviewing and reforming existing laws and regulations to align them with Nigeria’s current realities and aspirations. The report calls for a collaborative approach between the legislature, executive, private sector, civil society, and development partners to ensure effective implementation. It also stresses the need for the National Assembly to lead by example in terms of transparency, accountability, and integrity.”
Okeke further said that the second publication: ‘Simplified Manual on Environmental Justice in Nigeria,’ was a resource designed to empower communities, activists, lawyers, and policymakers in the fight against environmental injustice.
“The manual provides a comprehensive overview of environmental justice issues in Nigeria, including oil pollution, gas flaring, deforestation, flooding, and waste mismanagement. It also analyses the legal and policy frameworks for environmental protection, highlighting key national laws, regional treaties, and international agreements,” he said.
According to him, “The environmental justice manual features inspiring case studies of successful environmental litigation in Nigeria and globally, demonstrating the power of strategic legal action in securing remedies for affected communities. It also offers practical strategies for enforcing environmental rights, such as grassroots advocacy, strategic litigation, leveraging technology, and international advocacy.”
He explained that “At OAL, we believe that access to knowledge is crucial in the fight against systemic inequality, discrimination, and environmental injustice. That is why we are making both publications available.
“We invite all stakeholders – the public, civil society organisations, policymakers, and the media – to engage with these publications and join the movement for good governance and environmental justice in Nigeria.
“Our vision is a Nigeria where every citizen, regardless of social status, gender, ethnicity, or location, can enjoy the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. We believe that by working together, we can build a more equitable, prosperous, and sustainable future for all Nigerians.”
He said that the publications were available for download on the company’s website,https://oal.law/publications/.
Responding to question on how to shape the future of Nigeria in relation to the governance issues in the country, Babatunde Ogungbamila, partner, OAL, urged the Nigerian citizens to always hold the feet of the elected public office holders to the fire and ensure that they keep to their electoral promises.
“We often hear people say lack of political will on the part of the government; I think, this has been so because of lack of pressure from the citizens themselves, possibly because they lack the understanding of the issues. This is the reason why the two groundbreaking publications are for everybody, not just for certain people or those in government. We urge every Nigerian to take time and read the publications. It is part of the OAL’s contributions to the good of our country.”
