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An online publication recently said the Lagos justice ministry needs “urgent reform.”
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The publication accused the leadership of the ministry of maladministration and poor treatment of workers.
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It also claimed that the Special Counsel’s office had complained about unpaid allowances.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos Ministry of Ministry of Justice has denied accusations of mistreating some of its workers.
EDITOR’S PICKS
The ministry was reacting to an online publication titled “LAGOS STATE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: SHOCKING TALES OF WOE AND INJUSTICE: CLARION CALL FOR URGENT REFORM”.
The publication alleged that the State Counsel have complained about unpaid allowances ranging from litigation allowance (about 6 months is presently owed), annual robe allowance (paid recently only for year 2021 while 2022 and 2023 are still outstanding).
The piece also claimed that the State Counsel were owed their allowances for attending the last Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), 2022, which the Lagos State Government hosted.
In a rejoinder released by Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs Grace Alo, on Friday, the ministry clarified the accusations.
It said the unpaid litigation allowance was delayed due to administrative issues relating to the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The justice ministry noted that there was no approval for payment of allowances to State Counsel during the NBA’s AGC, hence, the Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, could not make the payment.
The rejoinder also addressed the harmonisation of the State Counsel’s salaries and allowances with that of Magistrates in Lagos, saying government commenced partial implementation in November 2021 and is working on ensuring full implementation.
FURTHER READING
Read the full rejoinder below:
The attention of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has been drawn to the above captioned malicious and false publication by a faceless online platform and our reaction to the said publication is as follows:
The Ministry of Justice has debunked in its entirety the false accusation leveled against the leadership of the Ministry relating to the welfare and well-being of State Counsel as contained in the fabricated report by the platform. Nothing can be further from the truth, as will show in this rebuttal. puts the welfare and well-being of all its staff on the highest level of priority.
On assumption of office, one of the unresolved issues the Attorney General met on the ground was the request by State Counsel in the Ministry to have their salaries and allowances harmonised with that of Magistrates in Lagos State. This clamour for the reinstatement of special allowances to Law Officers had been in existence since the year 2000 and different administrations have made efforts to actualise the harmonised salary structure of State Counsel with that of the Magistrates.
The Attorney-General met with State Counsel on the issue and submitted a memo to Mr. Governor (Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu) seeking revalidation of previous approvals for the harmonisation of salaries and allowances of State Counsel. The Memo was approved by Mr. Governor in October 2021 and partial implementation of the harmonisation of salaries and allowances commenced in November 2021, when State Counsel started receiving Security and Insurance Allowances.
The only outstanding item in respect of the harmonisation of State Counsel salaries and allowances with that of the Magistrates is the Responsibility Allowance and the same has reached the final stages of implementation.
In the past couple of years, Robe allowances of State Counsel were not only paid yearly but were in fact increased substantially by 500% based on representations and memos presented by the Attorney-General to Mr. Governor.
Apart from the above, other allowances are paid to State Counsel in their various departments depending or the schedule of duties.
On the issue of unpaid Litigation Allowance, unfortunately, the payment is delayed due to administrative issues relating to the CBN Cash Re-Design Policy which has nothing to do with the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary.
Contrary to the unsubstantiated allegations in the write-up, there was no approval for payment of allowances to State Counsel during the NBA’s AGC. The only approval obtained related to funds paid directly to the NBA for sponsorship of the AGC and funds for holding a Lagos State showcase session during the AGC. There was no item in the approval for payment of allowances to State Counsel who were sponsored to attend the Conference as falsely and maliciously alleged. It is therefore false to allege that the Attorney-General refused to pay or release funds for the payment of allowances due to the State Counsel who attended the Conference.
The Accounting Officer of the Ministry is the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary. The Attorney-General is not a signatory to any of the Ministry’s bank accounts. All issues relating to the disbursement and release of funds are not within the control of the Attorney-General.
There has been no maladministration in the Ministry of Justice, rather the Ministry under the watch of the Attorney-General has introduced innovations such as the Mentorship Scheme; the Secondment Programme (whereby State Counsel are posted to private law offices for a period of between 2-3 months to enable them to experience legal practice in the private sector); Counsel have continued to enjoy sponsorship to local and International Training and Conferences including the International Bar Association Conference; the District Prosecutor Scheme (State Counsel are posted to Magisterial districts to vet/filter charges filed by Police prosecutors); ensuring that all the Laws of Lagos State are available online in Law Pavilion; Drafting of over 23 Laws which have been passed and other pending Bills, including the Administration of Civil Justice Bill; Creating the first Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency in the country among others.
Neither the Ministry nor any of its senior officials were contacted for its reaction to the story. The faceless authors merely concocted and fabricated tales.
The allegations against the Office of the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary are most unfortunate as she has not only been forthright but of immense support to the State Counsel in the Ministry. Since the inception of this administration, the SG/PS has consistently championed the cause, welfare and well-being of State Counsel. The insinuation that the untimely passage to glory of our Counsel in the Ministry was due to work-related stress is not only a total falsehood but most disheartening, especially at a time when the leadership of the Ministry is yet to recover from the unfortunate incident.
The Ministry in carrying out its constitutional duties will continue to prioritise the welfare and well-being of all its staff in addition to rendering quality service to the government and people of Lagos State.
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