Fagbemi, Wike Canvass Amendment of TETFund to Accord University Status to Nigerian Law School

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike have said that the law setting up the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) should be amended to include the Nigerian Law School as a university that can benefit from the fund.

They both sought the special recognition yesterday at the flag off ceremony of the design and construction of 10 blocks for staff quarters at the Nigeria Law School, Bwari Campus, Abuja.

Fagbemi said the time had come for the Nigerian Law School not to be treated any more like an ordinary institution but as a university.

“One thing about the Nigerian Law School may be because of the placement; you can’t really place it as a university or as an ordinary institution.

“I said this because if you look at the law setting up the 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 benefit from TETFund. There are other institutions but I think Nigerian Law School is special,” Fagbemi said.

While agreeing with the attorney general’s proposal, Wike described Nigerian Law School as a professional training school, noting that TETFund should be amended for the law school to benefit from the special intervention fund.

Wike said with proper funding, the school will have money to provide infrastructure.

He said: “It’s getting too late for the amendment of the TETFund in order for the Nigeria Law School to be included for 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 this special intervention fund. If that happens, I am sure you will see that the difference would be clear because they would have money to provide infrastructure. Go and check their budget, you will laugh”.

Wike also replied his traducers, saying there was nothing wrong for the federal government to provide facilities and infrastructure for institutions.

“This school is owned by the federal government. There’s nothing wrong with the federal government trying to provide facilities for the school. Mr. President mandated me to provide these facilities.

“When I came for the last call to bar, I saw very bad buildings, I couldn’t believe it; where lawyers are being trained? We have included funds in the 2025 budget for two hostels in the Law School, one for males and another for females.

“Anybody angry with what I am doing for the judiciary should wait for their turn to do for their profession,” Wike declared.

The chairman of Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, thanked Wike for the good gesture he had been extending to the judiciary.

The contractor handling staff quarters said the project would be delivered in six months.