The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to justice by inaugurating the Governing Board of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACoN).
The move serves as a major step towards building a justice system that is more efficient, transparent, accountable, and people-centred.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said the new board would help drive the administration’s judicial reform agenda.
He said it would strengthen legal services for poor and vulnerable citizens while promoting equitable social and economic development across Nigeria.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Fagbemi described the Legal Aid Council as the moral compass of Nigeria’s justice delivery system. He stressed that poverty should never prevent anyone from accessing justice.
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The Attorney General explained that the Legal Aid Act brings together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, law enforcement agencies, organised labour, civil society, women’s organisations, and the media.
According to him, this broad representation enables the council to provide strategic policy direction and improve access to justice nationwide.
The Minister urged the board to strengthen the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme (PDSS) and the Court Duty Solicitors Scheme (CDSS), adding that the initiatives would help reduce congestion in correctional facilities, speed up justice delivery, and protect the rights of suspects from the earliest stages of criminal proceedings.
Fagbemi further called on the board to support reforms under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and encouraged members to promote legislative improvements, expand pro bono legal services through the Nigerian Bar Association, adopt legal technology, and deepen collaboration with development partners, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and civil society.
Speaking, the Board Chairman and former Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Sulyman Kawu, pledged to work closely with stakeholders to expand access to justice.
Kawu said the board would prioritise poor and vulnerable Nigerians, particularly those living in rural communities, where access to legal representation remains limited.
Despite funding challenges, he expressed confidence that the initiative would help decongest correctional centres, protect fundamental rights, and ensure that no Nigerian is denied justice because of financial constraints.
