The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has said that hope is restored in the country as it commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the release of minors detained during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The CSO also said the decision was a positive step toward justice and accountability.
“To restore hope and stability in our country, we must ensure that only judges with integrity serve on our benches,” Rafsanjani stated.
In a statement on Tuesday, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani praised the President’s decision, which follows his directive to Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN to ensure the immediate release of detained minors and their safe return to their families.
“CISLAC applauds the President’s commitment to reuniting minors with their families and investigating the circumstances surrounding their arrests,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC added, “This is a step in the right direction, but we urge the President to extend this directive to all detained protesters to promote justice and national unity.”
CISLAC also called for broader reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system, particularly to combat corruption within the judiciary.
The organisation also called for police reforms, including merit-based recruitment, better welfare, and improved training to tackle misconduct and corruption within the force.
He lauded the establishment of a Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs initiative to oversee the rehabilitation of the detained minors while urging the President to empower the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to promote civic education and active citizenship.
Rafsanjani further expressed optimism about President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing youth grievances, calling for a genuine dialogue to tackle issues such as poverty, corruption, and insecurity.
