The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has entered into a formal partnership with the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) to deepen justice sector reforms and promote people-centred justice across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The partnership was sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the NGF Secretariat in Abuja, marking a shift from years of engagement between both institutions to a more structured and long-term collaboration focused on measurable outcomes for citizens.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the NGF, Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, said the agreement builds on an existing relationship shaped by sustained, evidence-based dialogue on justice reform. He described the collaboration as timely, given ongoing challenges around access to justice, affordability, and public trust in justice institutions.
According to Shittu, a key milestone in the NGF–HiiL relationship was the launch of the Justice Needs and Satisfaction in Nigeria 2023 Report, which he said has provided policymakers and justice sector stakeholders with credible data on how Nigerians experience justice and where critical gaps remain.
He noted that the report has helped move reform conversations beyond assumptions, enabling governments and practitioners to design interventions that respond more directly to citizens’ needs.
Under the MoU, both organisations will work together to promote justice systems that are accessible, fair, affordable, and responsive, with a particular focus on the subnational level where most justice challenges occur.
Shittu explained that the agreement is not intended to be symbolic, but rather a platform for coordinated action, innovation, and learning. “This is a commitment to action and measurable impact across Nigeria’s justice landscape,” he said.
The NGF’s role places state governments at the centre of the reform effort. As the coordinating body for Nigeria’s 36 governors, the Forum is expected to use the partnership to position states as testing grounds for people-centred justice models that reflect local realities.
The collaboration is also expected to support reforms that strengthen justice institutions while ensuring that legal systems respond to how people experience everyday disputes, including land, family, commercial, and service-related issues.
Shittu acknowledged HiiL’s technical expertise and global experience in justice innovation, expressing optimism that research insights generated through the partnership would translate into practical solutions that improve efficiency, inclusion, and trust in justice delivery.
A press statement by NGF Director of Media and Strategic Communications, Mr. Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi explains that HiiL has operated in Nigeria for several years and reputed for its people-centred justice approach, which focuses on outcomes rather than procedures and integrates formal and informal justice pathways.
It States further that the partnership with the NGF is expected to help scale such approaches across states through stronger institutional alignment.
Both parties committed to working in good faith to expand access to justice through data-driven reforms, innovation, and collaboration, with specific initiatives to be developed under the MoU framework.
As Nigeria continues to confront long-standing challenges related to justice delivery, observers say the NGF–HiiL partnership signals a renewed effort to place citizens at the centre of justice reform.
