Osinbajo Advocates People-Centred Reforms at NBA Conference

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called for a people-centred approach to justice reform in Nigeria, urging stakeholders to redesign the justice system around the needs and experiences of citizens.

Osinbajo made the call on Tuesday during a panel session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The former Vice President was represented at the session by Ade Ipaye, a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State.

Osinbajo argued that placing citizens at the centre of justice reform would strengthen governance and enable the legal profession to provide more effective protection for Nigerians.

He said reforms should be guided by reliable data, clear priorities and local ownership. According to him, stakeholders must first gather accurate information on justice needs, case resolution rates and outcomes to identify areas requiring urgent intervention.

“What is measured is what gets funded and fixed,” Osinbajo stated.

He identified pre-trial detention, small claims, first-response mechanisms and access to legal assistance as areas that should receive priority attention because of their potential to deliver significant improvements in the justice system.

The former Vice President also stressed the importance of achieving early, measurable successes in justice reform, saying such progress could generate public and institutional support for more complex changes.

He argued that reforms would be more sustainable when they were adapted to local realities and embraced by state governments and relevant institutions, rather than being treated solely as government programmes.

Osinbajo further urged members of the legal profession, particularly the Nigerian Bar Association, to take a leading role in shaping justice policies, strengthening professional development and promoting reforms that expand access to justice.

He emphasised that efforts to widen access must not come at the expense of quality, professionalism and ethical standards within the legal system.

The former Vice President’s remarks formed part of discussions at the NBA’s annual conference, which brought together legal practitioners and other stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting Nigeria’s justice system and the wider legal profession.