AGF, FCT Minister Seeks Nigerian Law School’s Inclusion in TETFUND

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has called for an amendment to the law setting up the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, to recognise the Nigerian Law School as a university and a beneficiary of the Fund.

Fagbemi made the call during his address at the flag-off of the Construction of 10 Staff Quarters and Handover of Operational Vehicles to the Management of the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School, in Bwari on Monday.

He said the law school was currently not included in the TETFUND, which made it difficult to place the school as a university or an institution, noting that the law school stood out among other institutions.

“One thing about the Law School is, maybe because of the placement, you cannot really place the Nigerian Law School as a university or as an ordinary institution. I say this because if you look at the law setting up TETFUND, the Nigerian Law School is not included.

“And I think the time has come that amendment should be made to include the Nigerian Law School as a university that can take benefits from the TETFUND. There are other institutions, but I think the Nigerian Law School stands out,” he said.

He thanked the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his contributions to the development of the Abuja Campus of the NLS, while appealing to other individuals to support the development of the Law School.

“I want to seize this medium to appeal to other public-spirited individuals who are gifted, to please come to the aid of the Nigerian Law School. There are several campuses, each requiring attention. Your wealth is not determined by how much or the figure you have in the bank, but by how you have been able to touch the lives of these public institutions.

“I therefore call on all and sundry to please come to the aid of the NLS. The issue of accommodation is very important. If the staff do not have any rest of mind, or where they will sleep, it gives a nightmare and it will affect the performance of what they deliver to the students. It’s also incontestable that the issue of insecurity cannot be overemphasized, if a place is secured, our environment is secured, then it will rub off on the output”, the Minister stated.

In his address, Wike declared for the amendment of the TETFUND, so that the school would benefit from its special intervention fund.

“It is getting too late for the amendment of the TETFUND in order for the Nigeria Law School to be included in the funding. This is a professional training school. So, we will give you all the necessary support that TETFUND should be amended for the Law School to benefit from it as a special intervention fund. If that happens, I am sure you will see that the difference will be clear,” he stated.

The minister also assured the management of the law school of the provision of boys’ and girls’ hostels, to be captured in the FCT Budget of 2025.

“We will provide (hostels), both for the female and the male to be in the 2025 budget. If anybody is angry, let them wait for their turn, when you become the Minister of FCT, do it for your own profession that way. I’m not going to be intimidated by anybody”, the minister said.