Impacts of Covid-19 on Development of Legal Research in Nigeria
Keywords:
Corona Virus, Health Crisis, Global Problem, Socio-Economic Crisis, Future Pandemic
Abstract
The Corona Virus pandemic otherwise known as (COVID-19) has been described as the most devastating health crisis in the last 100 years. It negatively impacts not only on health also on social, economic and wellbeing of the global population. The government through its efforts to curtail the spread of the pandemic has diverted and prioritised resources meant for legal research to fight COVID-19. A doctrinal and non-doctrinal research methods of gathering data were adopted. The quantitative data was obtained using questionnaires as a legal research tool on thirty (30) researchers within the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. This is to provide an overview of how the government’s response to COVID-19 is affecting legal research and development in Nigeria. The paper finds that little attention is being paid by the Government to legal researchers in term of research funds and grants. The paper recommends equal balance of the Government intervention particularly in the era of pandemic. It is of the view that such legal projects are essential and can be useful to establish policies, strategies and action plans that will cater for our nation in the event of a future pandemic.
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Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Edo State Dangerous Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Bayelsa State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 as published in the official gazette, Bayelsa State (No 2 Vol 24).
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I.T Tahir, TETFUND: New Frontiers in Research and Development (2020)
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Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, E4, LFN 2004.
TETFUND, NRF Research Brief for the 2020 Grant Cycle. (July, 2020) https://nrf.tetfund.gov.ng/UserGuides/NRF%2520Research (Last visited Dec. 15, 2020).
J.B Fadokun, University Research Capacity in Nigeria and the Challenges of National Development in a Knowledge based Economy, 1-23 (2000) JOUR. OF SOC. SCI. https://www.nuc.edu.ng/fg-approaves-n7-5b-for-2020-tetfund-research-grant-prof (Last visited Dec. 13, 2020).
S.G Halidu, Assessment of Funding of Federal Universities in Nigeria: Evidence from Ahmadu Bello University 272 -282 (2015) YOBE JOUR. OF ECO.
R. Osagie, Federal Government Funding of Research in Universities in Nigeria, the University of Benin as a Case Study (2012), INTER. EDU. STU.
G.U. Onwuchekwa, Influence of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) on Educational Research in Nigerian Universities (2016) INTER. JOUR. OF ACA., 1-11, 9; S.G Halidu (n 4)73.
W. Saint, T.A Harnett & E.E. Strassner, Higher Education in Nigeria in Nigeria: A Status Report (2013) 259-281 HIG. EDU.POL., 264.
W.P. Akpochafo, Revisiting Research in Nigerian Universities for National Development (2009) 4(5), EDU. RES. AND REV., 247-251, TETFUND, NRF Research Brief for the 2020 Grant Cycle (July 2020) https://nrf.tetfund.gov.ng/UserGuides/NRF%2520Research (Last visited Dec. 2020).
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B. O’ DaryI Cornnor & 14 Others, Research Priorities for the Covid-19 Pandemic and Beyond: A Call to action for Psychological Science’(2020).
Rogers Dean Stringer v. Ministry of Health and Child Care & Anor (2020 unreported 1(HH-259-20-HC 2154/20).
R. Mathur & S.Rangamani, (n10); F.E Eboibi & E. Robert, Global Legal Response to Coronavirus (COVID 19) and its Impact: Perspectives from Nigeria, the United States of America and the United Kingdom 1-32 (2020), COMMONWEALTH LAW BULLETIN.
Buzz Photos and 2 Ors v. People of Republic of China & Ors (2020).
NCDC, ‘Public Health Advisory to Nigerians on Coronavirus Disease.’
No 18 of 1926, NO 7 of 1929 L.N 131 of 1954, Cap 384 LFN 1990, Cap. Q2 LFN 2004; Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Edo State Dangerous Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Bayelsa State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 as published in the official gazette, Bayelsa State (No 2 Vol 24).
F.E Eboibi & E. Robert, (n 12)24.
Id.
Y. Aboki, Introduction to Legal Research Methodology ( 2nd edn Tamaza Publishing Co. Ltd , Zaria, 2009).
P. Chinch, Legal Research Technics and Tips in Worley L (edn) BIALL HANDBOOK OF LEG. INFO. MANAG.)
O.O. Lawal, B.A Bassey & O.E Ani., Resource Sharing among Nigerian University Law Libraries: A State of the Art (2008), AFR. JOUR. OF LIB.
J.M. Jacobstein & R.M. Mersky, Fundamentals of Legal Research (8th Edn, Foundation Press, 2002)1.
P.A Justice Akhihiero, Legal Research in a Digital Age (Being a paper presented at the 2009 Law Week of the Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association Held on Wednesday, the 24th Day of June, 2009 at Bishop Kelly’s Pastoral Center, Off Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State).
Id.
J. Owoeye & I. Mabawonku, Information and Communication Technology Resources Access and Use: Issues of Legal Research and Practice in Nigeria 217-222 (2017), AFR. JOUR. ONLINE,
I. Olubiye, N.Odiake & A.Olaniyan, The Role of Technology in the Advancement of Legal Education and Practice in Nigeria http://eprints.abuad.edu.ng/639/1/Olubiyietal_Paper.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiRktjzmN (Last visited Dec. 12, 2020).
O. Bali, Information Technology and the Law: The Nigerian Perspective (Longmans, Green & Co., Lagos, 2002)116.
O.I Amusa & M. Atinmo, Availability, Level and Constraints to use of Electronic Resources by Law Lecturers in Public Universities in Nigeria 140-172 (2016) ITA. JOUR. OF LIB. & INFO. SCI.
T.O. Dada, Imperatives of Adequate Funding of Law Libraries in the 21st Century in Nigeria in Anyaogu U (edn) law Libraries and Administration of Justice in Nigeria, NIG. INS. OF ADV. LEGAL STU., LAGOS (1998)
D.G.Sangal, Proposal for Resource Sharing among Libraries in Nigeria (1984), NIG. LIB.
U.T Akpoghome & O. J Idiegbeyan, The Role of Digital Library in Law Research 108-113 (2010), INT. JOUR. OF LIB. & INFO.SCI.
J.E. Owoeye, Information Communication Technology (ICT) Use as a Predictor of Lawyers Productivity (2011) LIB. PHIL. & PRAC. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/662 (Last visited Oct. 14, 2020).
E. Katsh, Digital Lawyers: Orienting the Legal Professionals to Cyberspace 1141-1175 (1994), UNI. OF PITTS. LAW REV.
Id.
Schwarzenberger G., Reflections on the Law of International Institutions (1960), CUR. LEG. PROB., 276-295.
M.S Afolayan & O.A. Oniyinde, Interviews and Questionnaires as Legal Research Instruments 51-59 (2019), JOUR. OF LAW, POL. & GLOB.
S. Valentine, ‘Legal Research as a Fundamental Skill: A Lifeboat for Students and Law School’ (2010) , (39), Baltimore Law Review, 173-226, 217.
Id.
Section 7(1) (a)-(e) Tertiary and Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, E4, LFN 2004. Recently TETFUND amends law to include private universities, others in N7.5bn research grant. Over the years, owners’ private universities have clamored to be included in some measure of funding from TETFUND for research purpose only.
Section 4, Tertiary and Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, E4, LFN 2004.
O.A Ajayi, ‘Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) Policy in Nigeria: An Overview’ (2018), IX (9)(3), International Journal of Politics & Good Governance, 1-16, 9.
Section 7 (5) Tertiary and Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, 2011; Onwuchekwa G.U, (n4) 11.
Section 7, Tertiary and Education Trust Fund (Establishment) Act, E4, LFN 2004.; Ajayi O.A., (n 32)13.
F. Khanoba, TETFund Sponsors 26,000 for PhD, Masters Degree Programs. https://authorityngr.com (Last visited Sept. 27, 2020).
TETFUND, NRF Research Brief for the 2020 Grant Cycle, https://nrf.tetfund.gov.ng/UserGuides/NRF%2520Research> (Last visited Dec. 20, 2020).
TETFUND, NRF Research Brief for the 2020 Grant Cycle. https://nrf.tetfund.gov.ng/UserGuides/NRF%2520Research, (Last visited, Dec.20, 2020).
K.M. Onuoha, Nigeria @60: Challenges and Opportunities for Moving from Oil & Gas Sustained to a Knowledge-Based Economy (2020) Convocation Lecture delivered at University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, on 16th Nov., 2020) https://www.ui.edu.ng/sites/default/files/UI%2520Convocation%2520Lecture (Last visited Dec.21, 2020).
S. Ibrahim, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Research and Development and Nigeria’s Higher Education’ 799-818 (2017) EUR. JOUR. OF EDU. STU.
Id.
O. Adebayo, Federal Government Restrictions in Nigeria: The Covid-19 Regulations 2020.
Ibrahim S., (n47) 805-806.
Id. S.G. Halidu, (n4) 273-5; R. Osagie, (n5) 75-7.
K. Ewuzie, TETFund Amends Law, Includes Private Universities, Others in N7.5bn research grant. (2020) https://businessday.ng/education/article/tetfund-amends-law-includes-private-universities-others-in-n7-5bn-research-grant/ (Last visited Oct. 30, 2020).
Nigerian National Assembly,
P. Martin, ‘TETFund Collaborates with Science & Tech Ministry to enhance Research.’
Id.
No 18 of 1926, NO 7 of 1929 L.N 131 of 1954, Cap 384 LFN 1990, Cap. Q2 LFN 2004; Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Edo State Dangerous Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Bayelsa State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 as published in the official gazette, Bayelsa State (No 2 Vol 24).
Eboibi F.E & Robert E., (n 12) 29.
No 18 of 1926, NO 7 of 1929 L.N 131 of 1954, Cap 384 LFN 1990, Cap. Q2 LFN 2004.
Lagos State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Edo State Dangerous Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020; Bayelsa State Infectious Diseases (Emergency Prevention) Regulations 2020 as published in the official gazette, Bayelsa State (No 2 Vol 24).
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Act No. 24, 1999 (as amended).
Section 2 . No 18 of 1926, NO 7 of 1929 L.N 131 of 1954, Cap 384 LFN 1990, Cap. Q2 LFN 2004
Section 2, No 18 of 1926, NO 7 of 1929 L.N 131 of 1954, Cap 384 LFN 1990, Cap. Q2 LFN 2004
Section 3.
Section 8.
It can be accessed here: https://covid19.ncdc.gov.ng/media/archives/COVID-19_REGULATIONS
Covid-19 Regulations No1 of 2020, Regulation 1.
O.O Sofowora, The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Future of Litigation in Nigeria. https://www.irglobal.com/article/the-covid-19-pandemic-and-the-future-of (Last visited Dec. 10 2021)
Covid-19 Regulations No. 1 of 2020, Regulation 1(7); Circular No. NJC/CIR/HOC/11631of 23rd March, 2020.
Punuka, The Covid-19 Directives of the Chief Justice of Nigeria and state of the Judiciary (2020). https://punuka.com/the-covid-19-directives-of-the-chief-justice-of-nigeria-and (Last visited Jan. 15 2020).
http://vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-buhari-aproves-medical-research-funding-by-tetfund/ (Last visited Oct. 29, 2020).
‘TETFUND, NRF Research Brief for the 2020 Grant Cycle.’
I.T Tahir, TETFUND: New Frontiers in Research and Development (2020)
Id.
Published
2022-02-21
How to Cite
Owolabi, K. M. W. (2022). Impacts of Covid-19 on Development of Legal Research in Nigeria. GLS Law Journal , 4(1), 37 - 53. https://doi.org/10.69974/glslawjournal.v4i1.58
Section
Articles
