GOV DICKSON URGES LEGAL AID COUNCIL TO EMBARK ON INTENSIVE AWARENESS

 GOV DICKSON URGES LEGAL AID COUNCIL TO EMBARK ON INTENSIVE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS 
Bayelsa State Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson has called on the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria to intensify efforts at creating more awareness of its activities among Nigerians. The Governor who made the call when he received the Director – General of the Council, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel, and her entourage in Government House, Yenagoa, expressed serious concern over the lack proper awareness of its activities by the people. He therefore encouraged the council to do more to make by having greater presence in other states instead of just a few states and Abuja, the nation’s capital. Dickson also expressed happiness that the amendment bill of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria was now an act of the National Assembly and pledged his administration’s determination to partner with the council noting that he is familiar with their work as a body. The Governor, who disclosed that there are budgetary provisions made in support of the council in the state’s 2012 Budget, called on them to liaise with government through the office of the Special Adviser on Legal matters. He equally charged them to cover a lot of other areas including provision of services to distressed spouses, conflict resolution among others as part of its duties. On the  prison decongestion programme recently approved for the Council to handle, Hon Dickson was gratified and encouraged the council to build more capacity and also to reach out to those in need, for which the council was set up. Earlier in her remarks, the Director General of the Legal AID Council of Nigeria, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan had signed into law a new Act in 2011 which empowers the council to have more jurisdiction on criminal aspects including cases on Armed Robbery. She noted that recently the senate adopted a recommendation to pass decongestion of prison matters to the council to handle, stressing that the council will not disappoint those who worked hard to support its efforts. Explaining that the acts also allow state governments to render support to its activities, Mrs. Bob-Manuel solicited the support of the State Government on areas of accommodation, project vehicles as well as restore the state grants previously approved for the council. She congratulated the Governor on his victory at the gubernatorial polls stating that the council will partner with the government in areas of national interest. 
Daniel Iworiso-Markson
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor
(Media & Public Affairs)