Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has backed ongoing calls to amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to accommodate the Nigerian Law School’s interventions.
Wike disclosed this yesterday at the inauguration of the construction of 10-unit housing quarters for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.
The Minister also gave the school seven operational vehicles to improve its operations.
The Minister said that the amendment of the TETFund Act to accommodate the Nigerian Law School was long overdue, considering its contribution to the development of the legal profession.
“This is a professional training school. So, we will give all the necessary support that the Fund be amended so that the law school can benefit from its special intervention funds.
“If that happens, I am sure the difference will be clear. The school will have the money it requires to provide critical infrastructure,” he said.
Wile also called for increased budgetary provisions for the Nigerian Law School to enable the school to develop infrastructure for quality service delivery.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu directed the provision of staff quarters and operational vehicles to the law school in Bwari.
He added that the institution also belongs to the Federal Government, and as such, providing the needed infrastructure to uplift the school was not wrong.
The Minister also promised to build 200-bed male and female hostels for the Nigerian Law School, Bwari.
According to him, the current hostels are not fit for the training of professional lawyers for the Nigerian legal profession
He said the hostels’ construction fund would be included in the FCTA’s 2025 budget.
•Lambasts those criticising him for supporting judiciary
He called on those who might not be happy with the support for the judiciary and legal education to wait for their turn.
The Minister said there was nothing wrong with the federal government providing institutions with facilities and infrastructure.
He said, “This school is owned by the federal government. There’s nothing wrong with the federal government trying to provide facilities for the school. Mr. President mandated me to provide these facilities.
“When I came for the last call to the bar, I saw very bad buildings; I couldn’t believe it; where the lawyer is being trained? We have included funds in the 2025 budget for two hostels in the Law School, one for males and another for females; anybody angry with what I am doing for the judiciary should wait for their turn to do for their profession,” Wike declared.
He thanked Tinubu for giving him all the support he needed to succeed as the Minister of the FCT.
Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, equally frowned at the non-inclusion of the Nigerian Law School as a benefiting institution.
“If you look at the laws setting up TETFund, the Nigerian Law School is not included, and I think the time has come to amend the Act to include the Nigerian Law School,” he said.
He said this will enable the school to benefit from the TETFund intervention funds.
Fagbemi thanked Wike, whom he described as “Mr Project,” for all his support of the judiciary and the legal profession.
“Whether or not you like him, you cannot dispute that he is a performer and one person you will always know where he stands, no matter what, even if you disagree with him. Another thing is, he does not embark on any project he has no money to complete,” he said.
He appealed to other public officeholders to extend a similar gesture to the Nigerian Law School to enable the school to maintain high standards in training legal professionals.
For his part, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isah Chiroma, recalled that he had appealed to Wike for infrastructural support when he assumed office in August 2023.
“This project is, therefore, a promise made and kept. The housing and operational vehicles will go a long way in assisting the school to achieve its mandate,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, said that staff quarters would consist of a fully furnished four-bedroom bungalow and expected to be completed in nine months.
