Osinbajo advocates people-centred reforms at NBA conference

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has advocated for a fundamental shift in Nigeria's justice system, urging stakeholders to adopt a people-centered approach that prioritizes citizen needs and experiences. Speaking at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Osinbajo, represented by former Lagos State Attorney-General Ade Ipaye, stressed that repositioning the justice system around citizens would strengthen governance and enhance legal protections.

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What is measured is what gets funded and fixed.

Osinbajo underscored the critical role of data in driving justice reform. "What is measured is what gets funded and fixed," he stated, advocating for the collection of data on justice needs, case resolution, and outcomes. He urged stakeholders to prioritize areas with the greatest potential impact, such as pre-trial detention, small claims, first-response mechanisms, and legal aid. Achieving early successes in these areas, he believes, can build momentum for more complex reforms.

The former Vice President emphasized that justice reform must be domesticated and adopted by state governments, becoming embedded in institutions rather than solely a government initiative. He called upon legal professionals, particularly the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to lead policy development, professional growth, and reforms aimed at expanding access to justice while upholding quality and ethical standards. Osinbajo also highlighted the importance of continuous professional development in mediation, legal aid, legal technology, and community justice.

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The people-centred approach asks us to move from abstraction to reality, from system convenience to citizen need, from exclusive pathways to inclusive ones.

Pro bono services were identified as a key instrument for widening access to justice. Osinbajo suggested that Nigeria's legal profession, if committed to its pro bono obligations, could establish a significant national legal aid mechanism for those unable to afford representation. He concluded by stating that the central question is no longer whether Nigeria needs justice reform, but whether stakeholders are prepared to redesign the system from the perspective of those who need it most, viewing justice not just as an institutional function but as a "living public good."

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Justice should be viewed not merely as an institutional function, but as “a living public good.”