The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has approved an immediate waiver of fees on Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) for the Nigerian Law School in Bwari, Abuja.

Mr Wike, during a meeting with the management of the Nigerian Law School, also declared an emergency on the construction of staff accommodation and other critical infrastructure in the institution.

Expressing surprise that the law school had operated without C-of-O since its relocation to Bwari, the minister said the lack of official documentation by government institutions was what his administration was rectifying.

Mr Wike ordered the director of lands to waive processing charges and ensure the prompt production of the document within a week.

The FCT minister noted that 10 staff quarters had completed and would be inaugurated during President Bola Tinubu’s third anniversary celebration.

The minister promised to construct an additional 10 units, using existing designs to reduce expenses.

He added that construction of two new hostels for male and female students were ongoing to address the problem of overcrowding.

Mr Wike noted that his administration had approved the construction of a new auditorium for the institution.

The minister urged the institution to engage the FCTA general counsel for the digitisation of its operations, similar to ongoing reforms at the FCT High Court.

He noted that interventions undertaken by his leadership were among the efforts by President Bola Tinubu to strengthen legal education and the judiciary.

Mr Wike stated that Mr Tinubu was currently constructing edifices termed “presidential apartments” for judges to ensure their security, welfare and autonomy.

“Anything we can do to help our children, we are willing to do that,” Wike stated.

Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Olugbemisola Odusote, acknowledged the infrastructure developments across the FCT.

She noted that the institution faced some challenges, including deplorable  infrastructure.