It is trite to say that every Act, Law, Rules and legal instruments operational presently in Nigeria or in the past, were benefits derived from certain regimes/governments led by either civilians or military leaders.

All the known Presidents and, or Heads of state we respect are those who succeeded in entrenching one or more legal instruments into the country and many of such instruments remained relevant and bebefitial to Nigerians over a long period of time.

Who will not respect a leader who, under his watch; Acts/Laws were enacted or promulgated to make way for a better Nigeria for Nigerians?

1) NYSC was established through the promulgation of a Decree. Today it is found in the Laws of The Federation of Nigeria, 2004 but Gen. Yakubu Gowon is remembered for good when NYSC is mentioned.

2) The Land Use Act was promulgated by the Gen. Murtala Mohammed/Obansanjo military government of 70s. Today it is in the LFN, 2004 and the duo are remembered for good when it comes to Land Law in Nigeria.

3) CAMA is an integral part of the Nigerian laws and is the landmark law when it comes to business law.
The Gen. IBB military government is remembered when CAMA is mentions.
The C.A.C that register companies are the offshoot of the great CAMA.
The Copyright Act, Trademarks Act, Patent and Designs Act were made reasonable and effective under the IBB regime such that the law was meant to truely encourage creativity and hardworking from Nigerians and citizens of countries maintaining reciprocal benefits with Nigeria.

4) The Nigerian Constitution of 1999, despite the military authorship, is nonetheless a landmark promulgation that brings honour to Nigerians in general and Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar in particular.

*THOSE WHO ALWAYS CRITICZE THE GRUND NORM SHOULD LOOK AT THE ALTERNATIVE. If the Abdulsami-led military government had not put that legal instrument in place for Nigerians after many years of military suspensions, setting aside and excessive tampering with the Constitution; what could the military had handed over to the civilians in 1999?

The blames should now be channeled to the successive civilian presidents who have respectively failed to update the ground norm to the yearnings of Nigerians.


5) Obasanjo came again in 1999 as civilian President and was determined to make a special mark Nigeria and Nigerians.
He really left foot print that shall never be wiped of on the sand of time for centuries if Nigeria...

Obasanjo's regime of 1999-2007 saw aggressive legal progress as every area of Nigerian governance witnessed progress. In one form or the other.
The LFN, 2004 attests to that for all to see.

6) Yar'adua/Gej. Will be remembered for the Electoral reform that thrived under their watch. The Electoral Act is there for all to see. History will be fair to them for electoral laws and for truly empowering INEC to be independent without interference.
No wonder GEJ lost an election and accepted the result...

For those who are conversant with the laws operating in Nigeria, especially federal laws; one can safely say that IBB and Obasanjo are the two leaders under who's watch the legal system had witnessed the greatest progress in terms of promulgations/enactments.

7) Muhammadu Buhari??
As one of those who bought BSO recharge cards to support Baba Buhari's bid to run for presidency in 2014 when we were told he had shortage of funds; I want President Buhari to make sure he sponsor or encourage the enactment of landmark laws or such amendments that will push Nigeria forward. If not, Buhari would have led Nigeria without a tangible legal and jurisprudencial respect.

Pls. Feel free to add your own area of knowledge on who among Nigerian leaders who made their mark in enactments/promulgations

-Eodavids