Introduce successor programme for us, Gov. Ugwuanyi tells DFID …As agency commends governor’s massive support

As the Justice for All (J4A) six years programme of the Department for
International Development (DFID) comes to an end in Enugu State,
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has appealed to the agency to introduce a
successor programme that would help bring further improvements to the
justice sector in the state, for the enduring benefit of the people
and the society at large.
Gov. Ugwuanyi, who made the appeal at the close out and valedictory
ceremony for the J4A programme at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, assured
that his administration as a responsible government will sustain the
gains made from the efforts of the organization.
This came as the DFID applauded the governor for his quality
leadership and the massive support offered by his administration to
the donor agency, saying that he provided the enabling environment for
the success of the programme in the state.
The governor who addressed the gathering, noted that the event evoked
mixed emotions for the state, saying that “inasmuch as we have come to
celebrate the achievements of the J4A programme and the impact it has
made in the lives of our people, we are equally saddened that the
programme has run its course and has now come to a close as far as
Enugu State is concerned”.
He, nonetheless, expressed gratitude to the DFID for the concern and
commitment towards the success story of the J4A programme in the state
and other programmes, adding that “the programme made excellent and
unprecedented interventions and introduced innovations that have
greatly helped to enhance the administration and dispensation of
Justice in the State”.
These interventions, according to the governor, include, “support to
Magistrate and Customary Courts more especially, the renovation and
furnishing of court complexes; Work on model police stations and
voluntary Policing sector (MPS and VPS); support to Community
Paralegal and Village mediation programme; engagement with the Enugu
Justice Reform Team to ensure the passage of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Law; establishment of witness support unit in the
High Court; development of practice direction on case Management; and
establishment of case management in prisons, among others.
Earlier in his remark, the Head of DFID in Sub-Sahara Africa, Bob
Anon, noted that the event was also to showcase the agency’s
achievements, its resources and impacts for other neighboring states
to learn and educate others about the programme.
The agency added that Enugu State was rated far above other states in
the country in the world rating of the programme and equally commended
the governor for converting some of its ad hoc workers in the state’s
Ministry of Justice to permanent civil servants.