Jack Acheme. Abuja
The newly appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has called on law teachers and practitioners to play an active role in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic and institutional frameworks to promote national development.
Professor Amupitan made the call while speaking at the 56th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), held in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Law, National Development and Economic Sustainability in a Globalized World,” brought together legal scholars and practitioners to discuss how the law can be leveraged to drive sustainable growth and good governance.
Professor Amupitan said law and legal reforms have a critical role to play in achieving credible elections and sustainable national development.
“Law is not merely a set of rules, but a foundation upon which societies build their progress.
“It serves as an enabler of development, guiding ethical governance, fostering economic opportunities, and upholding the rights of every citizen,” he said.
The INEC Boss said he will work with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to strengthen electoral laws that will ensure that elections are won more in polling centres than courtrooms, as well as enhance transparency to the level where “losers will congratulate winners.”
He noted that the Electoral Act, currently undergoing amendment by the National Assembly, presented an opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.
“There is very little INEC can do in terms of policies and regulations if the law does not support us.
“I will do everything possible to work with the National Assembly to ensure that we have enduring electoral laws that Nigerians can be proud of,” he explained.
He called for collective efforts from legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to promote the rule of law as a tool for social and political engineering in Nigeria.
He added the theme of the conference and the discussions were timely and relevant to Nigeria’s pursuit of institutional reform, especially in the electoral sector, and adaptations to new trends such as AI, biotechnology, food security, among others, to enhance national development.
The President, Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT), Professor John Oluwole Akintayo, in his remarks, said law has a pivotal role in driving national development and economic sustainability.
According to him, the gathering offers an opportunity for law teachers to reflect on how legal frameworks could enhance governance, economic reform, and accountability.
“There’s a strong nexus between law and development because law drives most development in society.
“Even when government uses policy to advance its agenda, such policies must have a legal framework to hold government accountable,” he said
He said that the conference focused on discussions around electoral jurisprudence, AI, blue economy, and biotechnology, stressing that legal reforms in these emerging areas were essential for Nigeria’s progress.
“We believe electoral jurisprudence should not escape our attention. Credible elections are central to democracy, national growth, and development,” said Professor Akintayo.
The conference chairman, Professor Uwakwe Abugu, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, on his part, said the four-day conference will produce a communique addressing key national issues such as food security, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and legal reforms to meet challenges of modern governance and enhance sustainable development.
He equally called for improved welfare for law Teachers in Nigeria to boost their morale, even as they continue to play their crucial role in shaping the nation’s justice system.
The annual event brought together law scholars from universities across Nigeria.