Tinubu swears in Dakas as chair of law reform commission

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in Dakas Dakas as chairman of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC).

The president also swore in Uchenna Okolocha as the commissioner representing the south-south at the commission.

The swearing-in took place on Wednesday at the State House before the commencement of the weekly federal executive council (FEC) meeting.

The senate screened and confirmed the nominees in July.

Adeniyi Adegbonmire, senate committee chairman on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, had said Dakas, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from the north-central, and Eugene are “fit and proper persons to assume the positions”.

“The nominees possess the requisite qualifications, leadership qualities and comportment to discharge the statutory duties and functions of the offices of chairman and commissioner of the commissioner,” Adegbonmire said.

The commission is responsible for advancing the progressive development and reform of Nigeria’s laws through codification, removing obsolete provisions, and simplifying the legal framework.

The NLRC also ensures the reforms align with government policy directions while keeping the legal system relevant to contemporary social, economic, and political realities.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the ceremony, Dakas said he will be “deliberate about identifying and proposing reforms, some for very obsolete laws” in the country.

“It will interest you to know that quite a number of our laws date back to the colonial era, and very many of them are still on the statute books. Many of them are not fit for purpose,” he said.

“Our goal is not just to amend but to actively delete laws that hinder progress and no longer align with the nation’s aspirations.”

Dakas added that the reform agenda will be carried out in collaboration with the national assembly and the executive to restore public confidence in the nation’s laws.