Oyo State Govt Marks New Legal Year, Urges Law Officers To Uphold Unity, Professionalism

The Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, has marked the commencement of the new legal year with a ceremony featuring goodwill messages and prayers, as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Hon. Ayodeji Abiodun Aikomo, called on law officers to sustain unity, mutual respect and teamwork in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The programme, organised in collaboration with the Law Officers Association of Nigeria (LOAN), Oyo State Chapter, commenced with a legal procession into the conference hall.

In his goodwill message, Hon. Aikomo urged law officers to remain united and committed to collective progress, stressing that the Ministry could only effectively discharge its mandate in an atmosphere free from grudges, ill will and disaffection. He encouraged them to embrace the new legal year with the fear of God, mutual understanding and a shared commitment to the growth of the Ministry, noting that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs Oluwabunmi Are, charged the officers to renew their commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, diligence and impartiality. She emphasised that the authority entrusted to them came with the responsibility to serve the public with honesty, humility and accountability. She further stressed that a strong Ministry of Justice depended on unity, cooperation, mutual respect, teamwork and mentorship, while commending the leadership of LOAN under Mrs D. O. Collins.

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the Chairman of LOAN, Oyo State Chapter, Mrs Collins, acknowledged the demanding nature of the responsibilities of law officers and urged members to uphold diligence, discipline, competence and ethical standards in the discharge of their duties. She reaffirmed that the welfare and professional recognition of law officers remained central to the association’s mandate, while encouraging senior colleagues to provide mentorship and guidance for younger lawyers.

The programme concluded with prayers led by Mr O. W. Ogunniran and Mrs G. O. Sanni, seeking divine wisdom, guidance and strength for the Ministry as it begins the new legal year.