INTRODUCTION/OVERVIEW

The Legal Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development is a service and professional Unit charged with the responsibility of providing general legal services and protection to the Ministry, its parastatals and affiliate organisations like the Sporting Federations. The Legal Services Department is an extension of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, under whose delegated authority; the Legal Adviser carries out his duties at the Ministry. The Legal Services Department provides legal services in the following ways:

ADVOCACY SERVICES

The Legal Services Department provides legal defence for the Ministry, its parastatals, and affiliate organizations against a broad variety of civil cases brought under a wide range of statutes up to the Appellate Courts. The Department also institutes civil cases for the Ministry when the need arises.

SOLICITOR’S DUTIES

Apart from advocacy duties, the Ministry’s Counsel also provides general legal advice on a wide range of complex legal issues to the Ministry and its parastatals.

MANDATE

The mandate of the Legal Department is to protect the legal and policy interests of the Federal Government and those of the Ministry in all matters, and at all times.

OBJECTIVES

The Legal Department in line with its mandate intends to:

• Ensure that all Litigation cases in the various Courts across the Country as well as arbitrations involving the Ministry or her agencies are handled timeously within the year under review;
• Ensure that all Contract Agreements, Leases, Memorandum of Understanding, and other legal documents are prepared, vetted, and executed in a timely manner;
• Ensure Legal Advice and Opinions on various Policy issues to all Departments of the Ministry, various Federations, and Agencies under the supervision of the Ministry are rendered at the appropriate time to ensure full compliance with Government Rules and Guidelines.
• Ensure full participation in the Technical Advisory Committees of the Ministry; i.e. Procurement Process, Project Monitoring and Evaluation.

LEGAL SERVICES UNIT (ORGANOGRAM)