Lagos Moves to Translate Laws into Yoruba as LAWRECOM, Conference 57 Ink Governance Pact

​In a decisive move to bridge the gap between legal jargon and grassroots understanding, the Lagos State Law Reform Commission (LAWRECOM) is set to partner with local government authorities to translate state laws and local bye-laws into Yoruba.

​The initiative was the centerpiece of a high-level strategic visit by LAWRECOM’s management, led by Executive Secretary Mrs. Oluyemisi Ogunlola, to the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government and leader of Conference 57, Honourable Sesan Olowa.

​Modernising the Legal Landscape

​The collaboration aims to overhaul the state’s legal framework by reviewing, modernising, and consolidating the Laws of Lagos State to ensure they are accessible to every resident. A primary focus of the partnership is the codification of local government bye-laws, many of which currently exist in fragmented forms across the 57 Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

ADVERTISEMENT

​Mrs. Ogunlola noted that Conference 57—the umbrella body of council chairmen in Lagos—is a “strategic partner” in strengthening governance.

​”Our goal is to expand legal education and provide technical support for legislators and legal officers. We desire to establish community-based Yoruba law access centres to ensure justice is not hindered by language barriers,” she stated.

​Eliminating Tax Overlaps

​Responding to the proposal, Hon. Sesan Olowa expressed the readiness of the councils to align with LAWRECOM’s vision. He highlighted that a standardized legal framework would significantly improve administrative efficiency.

​”We are looking to leverage professional expertise on recent tax reforms to eliminate overlaps in revenue collection,” Olowa remarked. He further proposed the formation of a committee comprising Directors of Legal Departments across the councils to facilitate knowledge exchange and process improvement.

​A Bilingual Future for Lagos Justice

​The partnership is expected to produce:

1.Bilingual Access: Laws and bye-laws made available in both English and Yoruba.

​2.Consolidated Volumes: A unified reference for bye-laws to assist administrators, investors, and the courts.

3.Capacity Building: Specialized training for local government legal officers and legislators.

​The Commission is scheduled to present a full coordinated agenda at an upcoming plenary of Conference 57 to finalize the implementation of these reforms, which align with the state’s #AGreaterLagosRising vision.