The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, have called for the amendment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Act 2021 to allow the Nigeria Law School to benefit from the fund, highlighting the urgent need for infrastructural improvements at the institution.
Speaking separately on Monday during the official flag-off of the construction of 10 sets of four-bedroom bungalows for staff of the Nigeria Law School in Bwari, Wike stressed that the Nigeria Law School, which is not currently listed as a beneficiary of TETFund, should be included due to its crucial role in training legal professionals in the country.
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Wike, who has long been an advocate for the development of legal education in Nigeria, remarked that it was becoming “too late” for the amendment to be delayed. He expressed deep concern about the deteriorating state of infrastructure at the Law School, noting that the lack of adequate facilities hindered its ability to meet professional standards.
“The Law School needs the infrastructure that will enable it to become a model institution for legal education in Nigeria,” Wike said. “We are committed to providing the necessary support to ensure that TETFund is amended to include the Law School as a beneficiary. If this happens, the difference will be clear, and it will provide the funding needed for proper infrastructure.”
Wike also donated three coaster buses and four Hilux vehicles to the Nigeria Law School, showing his commitment to supporting the institution’s operational needs.
The construction of the staff housing project is being funded by the Federal Capital Territory Administration and includes furnishings, landscaping, and other essential facilities.
The Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, also weighed in on the issue, emphasising that the lack of adequate accommodation for staff at the Nigeria Law School could adversely affect the quality of education and the well-being of students. “Accommodation is key,” Fagbemi said. “If the staff do not have proper places to live, it will affect their work and, ultimately, the quality of the students they produce.”
Fagbemi praised Wike for his continuous support for the judiciary, particularly during his tenure as Governor of Rivers State, when he initiated several projects aimed at improving the conditions of Nigeria’s legal institutions.
He described Wike as a man of action, who was always willing to champion projects that were necessary for the progress of the legal system, stating, “Whether or not you like him, you cannot dispute the fact that he is a performer. He is one person who does not abandon projects.”
In response, Wike reassured attendees that he would include two hostel projects – one for male and one for female students – in the 2025 budget for the Federal Capital Territory. He also confirmed that the staff accommodation project, which had already begun, would be completed within the next eight to nine months.
“The Nigeria Law School is owned by the Federal Government,” Wike explained. “It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to provide the necessary infrastructure to uplift the school. The President has already acknowledged the decay in infrastructure, and I am here to ensure we make the necessary improvements.”
Wike further emphasised that the Law School, as a professional training institution, deserved to benefit from the TETFund, which currently supports universities and other tertiary institutions in the country. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of the Law School’s funding, calling for an increase in its budget to ensure it could compete with other institutions in terms of resources and infrastructure.
“It’s high time the TETFund Act is amended to allow the Nigeria Law School to benefit from this special intervention fund,” Wike stated. “This will make a huge difference. The Law School will have the funds it needs to provide adequate infrastructure for students and staff alike.”
In the same vein, Wike pointed out the commitment of members of the National Assembly, particularly the deputy chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, who had expressed willingness to support the judiciary’s needs. He urged the legislators to also “jerk up” the budget for the Nigeria Law School to ensure it received the necessary resources for its development.
The call for TETFund inclusion comes at a time when legal education in Nigeria is facing growing pressure to meet international standards. The Nigeria Law School, which operates campuses across the country, plays a pivotal role in training legal practitioners, yet has struggled with infrastructure and funding challenges in recent years.
The proposed amendments to the TETFund Act, should they come to fruition, could help address some of these challenges, enabling the Law School to modernise its facilities and improve its training environment.
Both Wike and Fagbemi have pledged their support for this cause, stressing that legal education in Nigeria cannot afford to lag behind in the face of growing demands for quality and professionalism in the legal sector.
As part of his ongoing support for the Nigeria Law School, Wike also assured that his ministry would continue to prioritise infrastructural development in the FCT, including investments in educational institutions like the Law School, which serve as foundational pillars for the country’s justice system.
