Nigeria Initiates Overhaul of Federal Statutes: 269 Laws Marked for Removal

The Federal Government of Nigeria has taken a significant step toward modernizing the nation’s legal framework by reviewing 932 federal enactments and 731 subsidiary legislations. According to a report from Channels Television, the exercise has resulted in the identification of 663 enactments to be included in the proposed 2025 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), while 269 laws have been classified as obsolete, spent, or repealed.

A Necessary Legal Update

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, announced the completion of the report in Abuja. The initiative aims to ensure that Nigeria’s federal laws are coherent, accessible, and aligned with the country’s current socio-economic needs. The next phase of the process involves submitting the report to President Bola Tinubu, who is expected to transmit the findings to the National Assembly for legislative consideration.

Fagbemi emphasized that the review should not be a one-time event, advocating for a sustainable mechanism that allows for the regular updating of federal statutes to prevent future stagnation.

Addressing Structural Challenges

The Committee on the Review, Update and Consolidation of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, chaired by Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, conducted a rigorous examination of statutes enacted up to 2025. The committee’s work revealed several systemic issues, including:

• Archaic Language: Many statutes contained outdated terminology that complicated legal interpretation.
• Inconsistent Provisions: The review identified errors in numbering, cross-references, and legislative headings.
• Economic Disconnect: Certain statutory fines and fees were found to be as low as ₦10 or ₦50, failing to reflect modern economic realities.

Fapohunda noted that the absence of a centralized national repository for federal legislation significantly hindered the committee’s work. To address this, the committee recommended the creation of a digital, consolidated platform to improve public access to laws and facilitate future revisions.

Recommendations for Future Governance

Beyond the immediate consolidation, the committee proposed that the Attorney-General issue advisory notes to Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). This is intended to standardize the drafting procedures for enabling laws and subsidiary legislation, as the committee observed recurring deficiencies in how these bodies currently initiate legal instruments.

The committee also utilized digital collaboration tools and sought technical perspectives from various domestic and international bodies, including the Nigerian Law Reform Commission and the Law Commission of England and Wales. The final output, presented as a 20-volume draft, serves as the foundation for the 2025 LFN edition.

Conclusion

As the report moves toward the National Assembly, the focus remains on ensuring that the legal system is responsive to contemporary governance. By purging obsolete enactments and establishing a framework for continuous review, the government aims to rectify long-standing inconsistencies in the Nigerian legal landscape. The ultimate success of this initiative will depend on the legislative action taken by the National Assembly and the establishment of the recommended permanent mechanisms for legal maintenance.

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p class=”vbna-source-note”>Source: Channels Television

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