‘Socio-economic crisis, bane of crime’

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, has said that social, political, economic and cultural problems have in no small measure affected the well-being of the populace and are at the root of crime and criminality bedeviling the country today. Represented by Alhaji Sale Ahidjo, Director, General Services Department in the Ministry, Alo […]

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, has said that social, political, economic and cultural problems have in no small measure affected the well-being of the populace and are at the root of crime and criminality bedeviling the country today.

Represented by Alhaji Sale Ahidjo, Director, General Services Department in the Ministry, Alo made this assertion during a two day sensitization workshop/training on the Administration of Criminal Justice System in Nigeria held in Abuja recently.

According to him, every society across the globe has its peculiar problems and challenges and the country is not an exception.

He urged the participants of the workshop to examine the increasing wave of crime in Nigeria and the factors incapacitating the Police and other security agencies in the task of crime prevention and control.

Alo implored them to look into reasons why the security agencies are inadequately equipped and motivated, coupled with the perennial problems of poverty, unemployment and the breakdown of family values which have made crime prevention and control a difficult task.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, he said, is the much awaited revolution in the criminal justice arena as “the criminal justice system existing before the coming into force of this Act has lost its capacity to respond quickly to the needs of the society, check the rising wave of crime, speedily bring criminals to book and protect the victims of crime”

In a remark, the Director, Legal Services in the Ministry, Barr. Mrs. Ijeoma Aruaga, said the existence of any society lies on citizens ‘ability to both define the parameters of acceptable social behavior and to ensure adherence to the social contract by establishing consequences that punish violations.

She, therefore, urged participants to dwell on the role of Criminal Justice Administrators under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015, with more emphasis on Labour law.