By Philip Yatai
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged professional bodies in the country to desist from criticising government actions and channel their energy to reforms.
Wike gave the advice when the Body of Benchers, led by its Chairman, Albert Akpomudje, visited him at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The minister said that focusing on reforms would attract tangible development to professional bodies and their members as against wasteful energy criticising government actions.
”Leaders of professional associations should be remembered for projects and reforms they attracted while in office, rather than for frequent appearances on television criticising the government.
”If you are president of an association and all you do is attend television programmes to criticise the government, that is not enough.
”If you focus your attention more on criticism, what will be your legacy at the end of the day?
”You cannot occupy a sensitive position and all you do is to criticise the government every day. At the end of the day, people will ask you what you did for your profession while in office,” he said.
He said successive leaders of the Body of Benchers had demonstrated exemplary leadership by consistently seeking government intervention to improve infrastructure and facilities for the legal profession.
”You are not the first chairman of the Body of Benchers, but you came with requests that will improve the institution and open up the area for everybody. That is leadership,” he added.
The minister condemned what he described as ”destructive criticism” by some professional groups, insisting that constructive engagement with government yielded better results.
”Constructive criticism is good, but not the kind where nobody sees anything good in what the government is doing,” he further said.
He particularly faulted criticisms surrounding government-built houses for judges, arguing that providing infrastructure and welfare support for judicial officers strengthened institutions rather than compromise them.
He advised professional associations to devote more energy to identifying gaps in their sectors and partnering with the government to address them.
Wike noted that under the current administration, the annex building of the Body of Benchers was nearing completion and would be delivered by June.
He added that the access road around the Nigerian Law School and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission Academy corridor were already 98 per cent completed.
The minister also approved Akpomudje’s request for an access road to the Body of Benchers annex building.
He directed relevant officials of the FCT administration to immediately assess and incorporate the project into ongoing works.
Earlier, Akpomudje commended the FCT administration for what he described as ”remarkable infrastructural transformation” across Abuja, especially projects benefiting the legal profession.
He said the Body of Benchers was grateful for the completion of its annex building, the ongoing fire service station project and the construction of access roads within the complex.
”Roads are being constructed and upgraded daily both in the city centre and rural areas. Indeed, this is what governance should be,” he said.
He added that collaboration among the executive, legislature and judiciary remained essential to strengthening democratic institutions and improving access to justice in Nigeria.(NAN)
Edited by Deborah Coker
