Enugu State Ministry of Justice has announced plans for a comprehensive institutional overhaul aimed at strengthening systems and ensuring faster and more efficient justice delivery across the state.
The new Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, disclosed this on Monday during his first official meeting with staff of the ministry, shortly after a Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Augustine Otugo at the ministry’s premises.
Addressing the staff, Barr. Nnajieze outlined four critical areas that would drive the reform agenda, namely mandate, attitude, reform, and welfare, stressing that under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, the Ministry of Justice must function as a quality-assurance hub for justice delivery and stay ahead of emerging legal and administrative challenges while maintaining strict due process.
Barr. Nnajieze, who until his appointment, served as Special Adviser to the Governor on Legal Matters, stated that the ministry now has a clear directive from the governor to ensure that no Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) enters into contractual agreements without the participation of legal officers from the Ministry of Justice at negotiation stages.
According to him, this policy would significantly reduce needless litigation and protect the state from avoidable legal liabilities.
He further disclosed that ongoing reforms would cover the establishment of a more effective juvenile justice system, tracking, monitoring, and reporting of cases at the Magistrate Courts, deployment of a functional civil case-management system, and measures to ensure quicker transfer of case files from the police to prosecutors in order to reduce delays and strengthen prosecutorial efficiency.
Barr. Nnajieze added that capacity-building programmes would be introduced to improve staff performance, while the reforms would also translate into better conditions of service and improved work environments.
“You can already see a lot of work going on in the ministry. Everything will be transformed to reflect the dignity of the legal profession. Facilities will also be upgraded because how we feel about where we work affects how we perform. Lawyers must be treated with dignity. History always rewards those who work to improve their society,” he said.
He also warned against absenteeism and lax work culture, stating that new systems would be introduced to curb the practice of staff signing in and leaving for personal business, only to return at closing time.
“That era is over. As the legal image of the state, we must lead by example, both in how we perform our duties and in how we present ourselves,” he added.
In his remarks, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Barr. Ikechukwu Ezenwukwa, welcomed the new Attorney General and commended the reform direction of the leadership.
He assured that staff would cooperate fully to deliver on the governor’s mandate and emphasized that management would not hesitate to discipline any officer found wanting in the discharge of official duties.
“We must change our attitude to work. We cannot treat our responsibilities with levity. Our dressing and conduct must reflect the dignity of our profession. Reports of inappropriate conduct in other ministries will no longer be tolerated. Everyone must work with diligence and courage, without fear or intimidation,” he stated.
