THE African Bar Association, ABA, has identified eight critical areas that the new government under the leadership of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari must address when he takes the rein of power in Nigeria.

In a statement by its President, Hannibal Uwaifo , the ABA also pledged  its support for the  incoming government “in the bid to deepen democratic values and ensure improved economic fortune for the citizenry.”

Top on the list of the issues, according to ABA is official corruption, which the association advised Buhari to decisively deal with by “setting up a code of conduct of government affairs and handling of public funds for public officials.”

”The rule of law must be strictly adhered to and extrajudicial activities of the security agencies must be checked and severely punished.The body also urged Buhari to review salaries of public officials “to reflect the poor purse of Nigeria and to make more finances available for social services.” The statement read in part: “Deliberately welfare policy must be put in place as a priority to cater for the vulnerable and less endowed in Nigeria. Unemployment of our youths must be tackled decisively.

”True independence of the judiciary must be ensured and wrongdoings promptly and satisfactorily investigated and punished.

”Government and social services must be improved to deliberately bridge the gap between the zeal and determined quest to conduct a credible election exhibited by INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega and his team is very commendable and exemplary.

”Free enterprise must be encouraged though deliberate government policies and programmes, especially agricultural technology and small and medium scale business.”

In conclusion,  AFBA also advocated robust foreign policies, while calling for a greater move towards African integration.

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