Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has warned legal officers and other staff of the state Ministry of Justice to go about their duties in such a manner as would ensure the highest possible level of productivity and service delivery in their respective offices.
The Governor who gave the warning while declaring a two-day retreat for Law Officers in the State Ministry of Justice at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu open noted that the establishment and sustenance of a reliable and credible judicial system and the qualitative administration of justice were some of the most important and sensitive responsibilities of government.
He stressed that it was for this reason as well as the impact their duties have on the preservation of law and order in the society that Legal Officers and other staff of the Ministry of Justice must not only be men and women of high intellectual and professional capacity but those who must approach their duties with great sense of commitment and dedication.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy Sunday Onyebuch,i reminded the workers of the administration’s policy of zero tolerance for laxity and corruption and advised them to view the Ministry of Justice as their own and consequently develop a more sincere and purposeful attitude towards their work
He commended the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Anthony Ani and his staff for their vision and wisdom in organizing the retreat, adding that the positive results to be obtained from it would benefit the entire state.
Governor Chime also affirmed the determination of his administration to support and sustain the continuous training of workers in the state to ensure maximum productivity.
He said that such programmes were normally designed to equip them with the ethical, intellectual and professional tools that would enable them perform their duties with due diligence and unreserved commitment.
Earlier in an address, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Innocent Umezulike noted that the functions of legal officers in the Ministry of Justice either at the State or Federal levels were wide and almost uncertain.
He added that legal officers attend to all the legal issues and problems of all Ministries and Departments of government.
According the Chief Judge, the Attorney General is also the Chief Law Officer and the Chief Legal Adviser to all the Ministries of the State and Legislature.
He stressed that with such enormous functions, the Law Officers in the Ministry of Justice cannot afford to be lazy and or negligent in their work.
The Chief Judge advised that the training programme should be made regular adding that a reward system for dedicated and resourceful law officers in the Ministry of Justice be established.
According to him, this reward may come be way of harmonization of their salaries with those of Magistrates or appointing the law officers who have shown distinction as Judges or Judicial Officers.
In an interview, the Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Anthony Ani said that the retreat would enable participants look at the general attitude to work of legal practitioners. He noted that the retreat would also enable participants approach their work with more commitments and dedication.
