NEWS RELEASE

At the 2025 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Barnawa Branch, former NBA National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, delivered a “stirring address” on the theme “Democracy and the Nigerian Experience: The Mirage of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution.”

Speaking before a packed hall of legal minds and stakeholders in governance, Nduka described Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution as the very soul of governance, encapsulating welfare, security, education, and economic rights.

He however lamented that the non-justiciability of the chapter has rendered it a “mere constitutional illusion.”

A statement obtained by CITY LAWYER reads:

“In its present form,” Dr. Nduka said, “Chapter 2 promises everything but delivers nothing. It is the clearest example of a system that outlines noble aspirations but lacks the courage to enforce them.”

He further criticized the Nigerian judiciary for often standing aloof, effectively reinforcing the helplessness that accompanies the non-enforceability of the Chapter. “Too often,” he noted, “the courts have hidden behind the cloak of non-justiciability instead of rising to the occasion.”

Dr. Nduka issued a passionate call to both the Bar and the Bench, urging them to embrace a more activist posture. Drawing inspiration from the Indian Supreme Court, he called for a reinterpretation of Chapter 2 as being integral to the right to life, which is enforceable under Chapter 4.

“It is time,” he declared, “for the legal profession in Nigeria to stop treating Chapter 2 as ornamental. Welfare, education, and economic security are not luxuries—they are rights that underpin the right to life.”

His remarks were met with resounding applause, with many participants praising the clarity and urgency of his message.

The Law Week, which continues through the weekend, promises further robust discussions on constitutionalism, governance, and the role of the legal profession in deepening Nigeria’s democracy.

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