Challenges Of A Draftsman In Contemporary Democratic Nigeria

ABSTRACT 

 Legislation is the framework by which government achieves its purposes.  

To politicians and administrators, legislation is a means to attain their economic, cultural, political objectives and certain particular public policies.  

The Draftsman and his challenges in contemporary democratic Nigeria can be best appreciated when you picture this; You have some urgent photocopying to be done, but the machine has run out of paper, the only other copier in the building is being repaired. You try to use the computer printer, but that has run out of ink. Your e-mail connection to the outside world is suspended because the satellite has shifted its position. Then the draft Bill you have spent all week on, disappears from the computer screen; with the words “unrecoverable disk error” posted on your scanner. That evening there was a heavy tropical rainstorm and the next day you come to the office to find the roof has leaked and most of your papers have got soaked.  This is a pictured summary of the Draftsman physical challenges, just a tip of the iceberg.  Or this: You are in your rather small office without windows or computer, trying to a draft a Bill in pencil, legibly enough for the copy typist. You are summoned to the Attorney General’s office and asked to take on a case in the court next day for which a defense must be filed today.  

The Solicitor General has just resigned, the Special Adviser is on leave and the only other Government lawyers are the DPP and a trainee. The file is incomplete and the witnesses are off the island. The judge has already refused one adjournment and the plaintiffs will be asking for judgment in default if the defense is not filed. You point out to the AG that 12 you have not appeared in court or done litigation for over 20 years; he says “Well—you’re a lawyer, aren’t you? This is almost a daily experience in Ministries of Justice in Nigerian states and even the Attorney General’s chamber in Abuja. The above scenes are parts and parcel of the psychological and

physiological challenges the draftsman is faced with in a contemporary Democracies like Nigeria. 

Title                                                                            

Certification                                                                                                                          

Dedication                                                                                      

Declaration                                                                                                                                                                                

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                       

Table of content                                                                                                                             

Table of cases                                                                                                        

Table of statute s                 

Abstract                                          

                                                                       

Introduction                                                                                                              

Objective, Scope and Methodology of Essay         

Legislative Drafting and Services          

Attributes and qualities of a legislative draftsman     

Role of a Legislative Draftsman                     

Constitutional Framework

                  

Challenges of a Legislative Draftsman         

Career and Manpower Development         

Legal Drafting Departments and Units in  

Organizations and Ministries                           

Legal Drafting as Part-Time or Consultancy.          

  

Interpretation Act           

Culture of law Deviance, Social, and 

 Economic Influences and Pressure          

Law and Order, Law Reform, Possibility of  

Perfect laws 

                                                                   

CHAPTER FOUR  

Findings          

Conclusion           

Recommendation           

Bibliography