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Sunday Dare Calls for Legal Overhaul, Commends Tinubu’s Reforms to Strengthen Rule of Law

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s legal and media systems to rebuild citizens’ confidence in justice and governance. Speaking at the maiden summit of the Media Transformative Group (MTG) held at the IACD Centre, American Corner, Jericho, Ibadan, Dare warned that selective enforcement and weak institutions are eroding the nation’s moral and institutional foundations.

Delivering a keynote address titled “Nigeria at 65;Systemic Problem,The way forward ,” Dare noted that Nigeria’s major challenge is not the absence of laws but their poor enforcement. “Our problem is not the absence of laws,” he said. “It is the failure of laws to retire wrongdoing and reward accountability.” He described the crisis as systemic, spanning outdated legal frameworks, sluggish judicial processes, overstretched law enforcement, and declining civic responsibility.

Dare urged the Nigerian Law Reform Commission to lead an overhaul of the Penal and Criminal Codes to address contemporary crimes such as cyber fraud, financial offenses, and gender-based violence. He also called for the full implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 across all states, backed by digital innovations like e-filing and case tracking to ensure timely justice delivery.

Turning to the media, Dare urged journalists to embrace ethical and patriotic reporting that promotes accountability and civic awareness. He commended the Nigerian press for its role in exposing corruption but cautioned against misinformation and sensationalism. “The media can amplify justice when ethical or suffocate it when compromised,” he said, describing responsible journalism as essential to democratic growth and social order.

Dare commended President Bola Tinubu for taking early steps to restore institutional trust through reforms in fiscal discipline, civil service digitalization, and police modernization. He also acknowledged ongoing reviews of outdated laws by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Law Reform Commission. The Ibadan summit, which featured goodwill messages, a panel discussion, and the official launch of the MTG, ended with a resolution to promote ethical journalism, civic enlightenment, and justice reform as Nigeria marks 65 years of nationhood.