The Lagos State Government has issued a clarification on the roles and responsibilities of Court Registrars and Local Government Legal Officers in Customary Courts across Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

This move comes in response to growing concerns over administrative overlaps between the two offices, which have created bottlenecks in the administration of Customary Courts.

In a circular released by Bibilomo Olushekun (Mrs.) Permanent Secretary the Office of Local Government Establishments & Training (OLGE&T), the state government emphasized the need for clear delineation of duties to ensure seamless collaboration and an effective working environment in LGs and LCDAs.

The circular outlined the distinct functions of Court Registrars and Local Government Legal Officers, highlighting their specific responsibilities to avoid confusion and administrative overlap.

Court Registrars are officers deployed by OLGE&T to perform clerical functions in Customary Courts. They are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the courts within LGs and LCDAs. Their duties include:

  1. Preparing the courtroom for sittings.
  2. Ensuring the safety of the courtroom.
  3. Preparing files for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) hearings or trials.
  4. Preparing case lists and calling cases.
  5. Filing and placing relevant documents in court files.
  6. Reading out charges in court.
  7. Serving as interpreters when necessary.
  8. Preparing warrants, hearing notices, court orders, and Certify True Copies of proceedings for judges’ signatures.
  9. Handling bail bonds for judges’ approval.
  10. Compiling quarterly returns on civil matters, family petitions, and other applications.
  11. Collecting and classifying statistical information required by the Lagos State Customary Court or other external agencies.
  12. Keeping proper custody of record books and exhibits.

B. Local Government Legal Officers
Legal Officers are professionals employed by the Local Government Service Commission and deployed by OLGE&T to provide legal advice and services to LGs and LCDAs. Their primary role is to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Their responsibilities include:

  1. Legal Advice: Providing counsel on governance, administration, contracts, public policy, and disputes.
  2. Litigation: Representing the local government in court matters, including land disputes and contractual issues.
  3. Drafting Legal Documents: Preparing and reviewing contracts, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and other legal documents.
  4. Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with statutory regulations, including Public Service Rules, Environmental Laws, and Land Use Laws.
  5. Advising on Policy and Procedure: Reviewing administrative decisions and their legal implications.
  6. Dispute Resolution: Assisting in resolving disputes within the local government, including staff conflicts and contractor issues.
  7. Public Service and Governance Issues: Advising on staff disciplinary processes, promotions, pensions, and other employee-related matters.
  8. Representing the Local Government in External Affairs: Acting as legal representatives when dealing with external entities such as government agencies, NGOs, or private organizations.

The circular also clarified the reporting lines for Court Registrars:
a) Court Registrars shall report directly to the Court President for all judicial and courtroom-related matters.
b) Court Registrars shall also report to the Council Manager of the host LG/LCDA through the Human Resource Officer for the day-to-day execution of their duties.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bibilomo Olushekun, urged all Heads of Administration and Human Resource Officers to ensure compliance with the circular and give it wide publicity.

This clarification aims to streamline the administration of Customary Courts in Lagos State, ensuring that both Court Registrars and Local Government Legal Officers can perform their duties effectively without overlap or conflict.

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