Kwara State Government on Monday announced the elongation of service of Magistrates and state counsel in the state’s judiciary from 35 to 65 years.

This was as the Federal Government on Monday said it had put in place a national policy framework that would put an end to ‘the blame game’ trend among various institutions in the justice sector.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and his counter in the Kwara State, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) announced these during the national sensitisation workshop on the National Policy on Justice For the North Central Geo-Political zone held in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.

‎Represented by a Director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Ifunaya Nwajagwu, Malami urged stakeholders to come up with suggestions on how to ensure its implementation with synergy at the state and federal levels.

“Over the years, while other sectors such as education, health, agriculture have put in place national policies and structures to provide broad legal framework for the sectors operations, there is no such policy in justice and justice institutions. Thus, each institution operates in isolation and plays the blame game instead of coming together to address the challenges confronting the justice system in the country.

“We are therefore delighted that today. We now have such policy in place and marked a paradigm shift. The policy sets out agreed principles and guidelines for effective and efficient service delivery. The policy provides the framework for resolving cross institutional problems, developing and managing an all –inclusive reform, as well as coordinate the implementation of reforms,” he said

Also in his address, Ajibade expressed delight that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had approved series of reforms to enhance quick dispensation of justice in Nigeria, nothing that the success of the justice sector reform would go a long way in determining Nigeria’s place in the global world.

He said: “The state government has approved a special prison decongestion exercise to aid the prosecution of cases pending at various courts against over 443 awaiting trial inmates in prison spreads across the state within a period of three months.

“The courts sit on daily basis and went beyond official hours to dispense criminal cases pending in courts so as to meet the target. As a matter of fact, the Honourable Chief Judge of Kwara State recently released 16 inmates awaiting trial with a view to decongest the prisons.

“The state government has also approved the elongation of service of magistrates and state counsel to 65 years against the initial 35 years in service. This was done to ensure that the officers deep wealth of experience do not go down the drain at the time the services of the officers are at the peak and productive. It would also enhance the quality of justice to be dispensed in the state.”

Kwara State Governor Abdulfath Ahmed, who declared the workshop open, said his government would continue to welcome criticism and suggestions that would enhance good governance and strengthen democracy.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, Ahmed said government must run in accordance with the “wishes and aspiration of the people” which he said has been “the hallmark” of his government. (NAN)