The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, on Wednesday attributed the slow pace of justice delivery and judicial reforms to inadequate budgetary allocations and delayed release of funds to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Fagbemi stated this at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, while presenting the ministry’s 2026 budget proposal before the House of Representatives Committee on Justice.
He said the ministry’s mandate is anchored on the implementation of the National Policy on Justice 2024 and its Strategic Plan 2023–2027 but lamented that persistent funding constraints have undermined effective execution of key programmes.
According to him, although allocations are often captured in annual budgets, low capital releases and deductions from overhead votes have significantly affected performance. He noted that in the 2025 fiscal year, the ministry received ₦6.68 billion out of the ₦7.50 billion appropriated for overhead costs over a ten-month period, representing 82 per cent performance.
For capital expenditure, however, he said only ₦869.63 million was issued as warrant out of a total capital allocation of ₦6.75 billion, representing 12 per cent performance, adding that the amount was not cash-backed, thereby stalling implementation of projects.
Fagbemi further disclosed that over ₦1 billion was deducted from the ministry’s 2025 overhead budget, limiting its ability to meet obligations to staff and service providers. He also cited manpower shortages and inadequate travel allowances for officers handling cases outside the Federal Capital Territory as additional challenges.
“Inadequate budgetary allocation to the ministry, coupled with delayed release of funds, is adversely affecting our ability to deliver on critical projects and services,” the minister said, stressing that an efficient justice system is vital for human rights enforcement, economic growth, investment, and national security.
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Despite the constraints, he highlighted milestones recorded in 2025, including reforms in criminal justice administration, counter-terrorism efforts, progress toward exiting the Financial Action Task Force grey list, and improvements in asset recovery and financial management.
For the 2026 fiscal year, Fagbemi said the ministry has proposed ₦23.68 billion to cover personnel, overhead and capital expenditures.
Responding, Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Olumide Osoba, assured the minister that the committee would subject the ministry’s estimates and those of its agencies to detailed scrutiny to prevent funding gaps from derailing justice sector reforms.
Osoba also pledged effective oversight of approved funds to ensure accountability and optimal utilisation, noting that the committee would work to ensure the 2026 budget aligns with the judiciary’s mandate, including the implementation of critical court decisions such as reinforcing local government autonomy.