Politicians have been called to insulate the Nigerian Law School from politics.
The call was made by Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike of Rivers State while reacting to a bill at the National Assembly, which seeks to establish two campuses of the Nigerian Law School in each of the geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
Speaking during an unscheduled inspection of ongoing construction work at the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Port Harcourt on Wednesday November 10, Wike said the bill was drafted by lawmakers to score a cheap political point in their constituencies ahead of the 2023 general election.
He added that the proposition to have one Law School campus in Yenagoa and another in the village of Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, when approval had been given for the establishment of Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas campus in Port Harcourt, smacks of petty politics.
He said;
“It is so unfortunate in this country that everything is being politicized. We are not perturbed because the Federal Government approved the establishment of this Law School.
“We got a letter from Mr President through the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, approving the establishment of this Law School, and he stated graciously through the Council of Legal Education that it should be established here in Port Harcourt.
“We said we are going to provide all the necessary infrastructure. I can see the level of infrastructure that is being provided, which of course I have said before is going to be world-class infrastructure that is supposed to be in a Law School.
“We are not only providing this infrastructure; we are also providing accommodation where the lecturers will live with all other things attached to it. And this Law School will have its own investment to take care of the Law School whether the government is here or not.
“From what I heard, the Deputy Senate President through some other lawmakers is sponsoring a bill to establish two schools per zone, and then saying that one will be in Yenagoa and one in Delta state, in the village of the Deputy Senate President. It is most unfortunate.”
Further, Wike said that a Law School is a highly technical institution that should be insulated from politics. He also urged those behind the bill seeking the establishment of more Law School campuses, to also bear in mind the cost of funding them.
The Governor said;
“Today, to even fund one Law School, see how problematic it is. Go to the Abuja Law School, go to Yenagoa Law School, see how they are. And see what we are doing. It is not easy to fund the existing Law School and you are now saying that the Federal Government should establish two law schools in each zone. Where will the funding come from? Everything is being politicized.”
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