National Assembly urged to pass ACJA Amendment Bill pending since 2023
The National Assembly has been urged to expedite action on the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) Amendment Bill that has been pending before it since 2023
The National Assembly has been urged to expedite action on the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) Amendment Bill that has been pending before it since 2023 as a way of fast tracking the needed reforms in the nation's criminal justice system.
The request was made in Abuja on Monday at the ongoing two-day training workshop for some criminal justice sector stakeholders, organised by the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS), with the support of the European Union (EU) and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
The event tagged: Training of trainers workshop on the National Minimum Standards (NMS) for the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws across the 36 states, is being attended by magistrates, state counsel, private legal practitioners, among others, drawn from across the country.
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The President of the CSLS, Professor Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN) stressed the need for the National Assembly to do all within its powers to pass the ACJA Amendment Bill deposited before it since 2023.
Prof. Akinseye-George explained that the proposed amendments, as contained in the Bill, is meant to address the major gaps identified in the ACJA since it was enacted in 2015.
He noted that the workshop is both timely and essential because it is being held a few days after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) made a public presentation of the NMS document.
Prof. Akinseye-George said the NMS provide a clear, practical framework to guide implementation by ensuring consistency, accountability, and measurable progress across the justice sector.
He added that "the Administration of Criminal Justice framework represents one of the most significant reforms in the country's justice system, which are aimed at promoting efficiency, safeguarding the rights of all persons, and ensuring that justice is not only done, but done promptly and fairly.
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"However, the true impact of these reforms depends not just on the law itself, but on how well it is understood, applied, and sustained in practice.
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"This workshop is designed to deepen your understanding of these standards, equip you with effective training methodologies, and strengthen your capacity to drive reform at scale.
"As trainers, you occupy a critical position in this reform journey. You are not just participants, you are multipliers.
"The knowledge, skills, and insights you gain here will be transmitted to countless others within your institutions and jurisdictions. In essence, you are the bridge between policy and practice," Prof. Akinseye-George said.
Some of the participants, including the Chairman, Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mrs. Onome Nwankwo (from the Anambra State Judiciary), Oluwatosin Oshadare (from the Lagos State Judiciary) and Umar Yakubu (from Kano State) expressed delight about the opportunity to be part of the training.
They commended those behind the initiative and sounded optimistic about the positive impact that the training would have on criminal the nation's justice administration system.
