By Waziri Isa Adam
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwo Ola, GCON, has urged the newly reappointed members of the Governing Council of Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) to remain resolute and committed in pursuing objectives of the Institute.
The CJN who was recently appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute made the urge in his Inaugural address at the 50th Governing Council Meeting of the Institute which held at the Old Court Room of Supreme Court of Nigeria Complex, Abuja.
The CJN said, “I wish to express, on my behalf and on behalf of other Council Members, our profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing me as your chairman, and for re-appointing 16 of you for another term of 3 years in May 2022, except the Director General whose initial appointment is for 4 years, renewable for another term of 4 years due this year”.
“Your re-appointment is a clear testimony of your outstanding contributions to the success stories of the Institute in the last three and half years through your constant review and approval of the Institute’s unique research and publications in emerging fields of law, capacity building of justice sector personnel, through its continuing legal education, and postgraduate programs, as well as your promotion of industrial harmony in the Institute through your approvals of staff career progression and capacity building of optimal performance of both academic and non academic staff”.
He stressed that, “your unflinching support to the management of the institute led by a very dedicated and committed Director-General, Professor Muhammad Tawfiq Ladan, is well appreciated’.
The CJN commended the Institute for the timely release of its published Annual Reports of 2019 to 2022, saying, “this speaks volume of the Institute at both national and international levels”.
The Chairman of the Governing Council therefore urged the council to sustain the tempo of years of dedication, commitment and support to the management for the progressive realization of the lofty objectives set out in the institute’s establishment Act, Cap. N 112, LFN 2004.
“I count on your usual cooperation and understanding in ensuring the discharge of our mandate despite the very tight and late releases of budgetary allocations, due to several factors”, he further urged.