Nigerian News from Leadership News
Nigeria Moves From 107 To 96 On Global Rule Of Law Rating
Andrew Essien
— Oct 31, 2016 34 am | Leave a comment
An independent, multi-disciplinary organisation working to advance the rule of law around the world, the World Justice Project, has revealed that Nigeria has had an 11-point leap, from 107 to 96, in global rule of law Index adherence rating.
The 2016 edition, which according to the organisers, expanded coverage to 113 countries and jurisdictions (from 102 in 2015), relied on more than 100,000 household and expert surveys to measure how the rule of law is experienced in practical, everyday situations by the general public worldwide.
“Performance is measured using 44 indicators across eight primary rule of law factors, each of which is scored and ranked globally and against regional and income peers: Constraints on Government Powers, Absence of Corruption, Open Government, Fundamental Rights, Order and Security, Regulatory Enforcement, Civil Justice, and Criminal Justice,” it said.
This year, Nigeria was the biggest mover among the 18 countries indexed in the region, climbing 11 points.
In a statement yesterday, the Buhari Media Support Group (BMSG) described Nigeria’s progress in the rating as a reflection of the success of the Buhari administration’s efforts so far, in entrenching and boosting the rule of law compliance in government.
The BMSG noted that the ratings prove that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s reforms, seen in its dogged fight against corruption, active transparency in government dealings, restoration of order and security in most parts of the country, especially in the North East, and improved access to justice, were bearing fruits.
In the statement signed by its chairman, Malam Muhammad Labbo, and secretary, Cassidy Madueke, in Abuja, the BMSG called on government agencies and departments to key into the government’s objectives of ensuring more transparency in government’s dealings. The group noted that the keying in of government officials into these goals would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic resolve to ensure open governance.
According to the group, the rule of law is fundamental to the development and growth of any society as it is the bedrock for citizen trust, confidence and participation in democratic governance.
“President Buhari has shown a clear resolve to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic processes and institutions. He has not just stopped at that, but has put his foot to work to bring to fruition this resolve. And that is why, today, respect for fundamental human rights, access to justice, security and transparency in government have improved,” it noted.
BMSG urged the Buhari administration not to rest on its oars in the bid to reform the Nigerian society, just as it called on Nigerians to support the government’s fight against corruption in all forms.
