Rule of Law Project
What is the Rule of Law?:
What comes to your mind when the term ‘Rule of Law’ is mentioned? Do you have a clear understanding of what it means? In what ways can the understanding of the rule of law by the common man be improved? What are the likely benefits that a country that operates under the rule of law will enjoy?
Make your voice heard. Contribute to this debate. What is the rule of law?
How are laws made and published? The process of law making is something that has remained unknown to many even amongst elites. Even when laws are made, not many efforts are made to publish and publicise them to enable the general public to know about these laws. That is why there are many laws which are made in the interest of the people and yet the people are unaware of the existence of these laws to enable them benefit from their provisions. For instance, do you know the processes through which laws are made and published? How do you think the processes of law making and publication can be made better? Are the laws made for the people or the government?
Make your voice heard. How should our laws be publicized?
Citizens’ participation in the law making process:
To make democracy work, citizens have to actively participate in the process of governance and in particular, the law making process. Democracy is democracy because of people’s participation in the process. In Nigeria, would you say that citizens (and in particular, the common man), participates in the law making process? Does the common man understand the need to participate in the law making process and how can they participate if they want to? Is your representative in the federal or state house of assembly representing your views?
Make your voice heard. How can you participate in the law making process?
How to hold the government accountable to the law:
The only way that the government can deliver on its promises is if the people are in position to hold the government officials accountable for their actions and or inactions. From your experience, would you say that the governments in Nigeria are accountable to the people? If yes, in what ways are they accountable to the people? If no, how do you think that the governments in Nigeria (at various levels) can be made accountable in order to achieve the dividends of democracy?
Make your voice heard. How do you want to hold the government accountable?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Rule of law watch
RULE OF LAW WATCH (ROL WATCH)
Rule of Law Watch is a collaborative project of Human Development Initiatives(HDI) and the World Justice Project of the American Bar Association in partnership with select radio stations in Nigeria. It brings together the law, media and telecommunication. The objective is to use local media to create awareness about Rule of Law and what it entails as a means of enhancing citizen participation in governance and improving citizen capacity to hold government more accountable to the people.
HDI is in partnership with selected Radio Stations will disseminate ROL awareness programmes that look at various aspects of rule of law including government accountability to law at all levels.
Nigeria is a fledging democracy with weak institutions of government, systemic corruption and high vulnerability to endogenous political shocks and exogenous economic shocks. Disregard for laws and denial of justice in criminal and civil justice system is a notorious fact. Mindful of the importance of law to good governance and development, the present administration in Nigeria has made respect for law and upholding the ROL one of its cardinal principles.
In its basic form the ROL posits that no one is above the law. ROL is widely recognised as a prerequisite for democracy and a basis for human rights advocacy. It is also a push factor for economic growth because countries with better ROL attract more FDI, aid and economic assistance while stable and predictable laws encourage investments and growth., ROL is also used to guarantee property and economic rights.
In light of the importance of ROL to development the citizenry cannot affordto be ignorant of its meaning and application. Ignorance prevents the citizens from holding the government accountable under the law.
In order to fulfil its public education obligation Human Development Initiatives in partnership with WJP-ABA and select media organisations hosts ROL Watch on radio in English and Yoruba languages.
In order to be a part of this public education initiative we urge you to contribute your views by phone calls, sms, emails and participation in the discussion forum that is dedicated to the ROL.
Rule of Law Watch is a collaborative project of Human Development Initiatives(HDI) and the World Justice Project of the American Bar Association in partnership with select radio stations in Nigeria. It brings together the law, media and telecommunication. The objective is to use local media to create awareness about Rule of Law and what it entails as a means of enhancing citizen participation in governance and improving citizen capacity to hold government more accountable to the people.
HDI is in partnership with selected Radio Stations will disseminate ROL awareness programmes that look at various aspects of rule of law including government accountability to law at all levels.
Nigeria is a fledging democracy with weak institutions of government, systemic corruption and high vulnerability to endogenous political shocks and exogenous economic shocks. Disregard for laws and denial of justice in criminal and civil justice system is a notorious fact. Mindful of the importance of law to good governance and development, the present administration in Nigeria has made respect for law and upholding the ROL one of its cardinal principles.
In its basic form the ROL posits that no one is above the law. ROL is widely recognised as a prerequisite for democracy and a basis for human rights advocacy. It is also a push factor for economic growth because countries with better ROL attract more FDI, aid and economic assistance while stable and predictable laws encourage investments and growth., ROL is also used to guarantee property and economic rights.
In light of the importance of ROL to development the citizenry cannot affordto be ignorant of its meaning and application. Ignorance prevents the citizens from holding the government accountable under the law.
In order to fulfil its public education obligation Human Development Initiatives in partnership with WJP-ABA and select media organisations hosts ROL Watch on radio in English and Yoruba languages.
In order to be a part of this public education initiative we urge you to contribute your views by phone calls, sms, emails and participation in the discussion forum that is dedicated to the ROL.
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