• Call Hotline: +2340000000000
  • waterresources@benuestate.gov.ng

Follow Us:

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube
Portal
Portal
[announcement_ticker]
  • MANDATE OF THE LEGAL UNIT
  • About the Department
Overall Mandate: To provide legal advisory, drafting, compliance, and risk management services to the Ministry in all matters relating to water resources, environment, forestry, and climate change.
  • Functions
  1. LEGAL ADVISORY FUNCTIONS
  • Advise the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, and Directors on:
    • Environmental laws and regulations
    • Climate change governance instruments
    • Forestry and land-use legal issues
    • Water resource rights and liabilities
  • Interpret Federal and State laws affecting the Ministry.
  1. DRAFTING AND REVIEW OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS
  • Draft and/or vet:
    • MOUs and MOAs with NGOs, CSOs, donors, and private partners
    • Carbon market agreements and emission reduction purchase agreements (ERPAs)
    • PPP contracts for water and environmental infrastructure
    • Executive Circulars and policy directives
  • Ensure agreements protect Benue State’s legal and financial interests.
  1. REGULATORY AND POLICY SUPPORT
  • Support development of:
    • State climate policies
    • Environmental regulations and guidelines
    • Forestry and tree-growing regulations
  • Ensure alignment with:
    • National Climate Change Act (2021)
    • NCCC regulations
    • Relevant Federal Ministry regulations
  1. DISPUTE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
  • Identify legal risks early in projects.
  • Handle pre-litigation advisory matters.
  • Liaise with Ministry of Justice in:
    • Court cases
    • Arbitration
    • Administrative tribunals
  1. COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE
  • Ensure Ministry actions comply with:
    • Procurement laws
    • Financial regulations
    • Environmental and climate laws
  • Vet NGO/CSO registration frameworks to ensure:
    • No illegal fee collection
    • No ultra vires actions by the Ministry
  1. SUPPORT TO CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Review:
    • Carbon credit project documents
    • MRV and data-sharing agreements
    • Benefit-sharing arrangements
  • Advise on:
    • Ownership of emission reductions
    • Community consent and safeguards
    • Avoidance of future legal disputes over carbon rights
  1. PRODUCTS OF THE LEGAL UNIT
  • Legal opinions and advisory notes
  • Drafted or vetted contracts and MOUs
  • Executive circulars and gazetted instruments
  • Compliance checklists
  • Risk assessment briefs for major projects
  1. SERVICES PROVIDED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS
Department Legal Support Provided
Climate Change Carbon contracts, MOUs, NDC compliance
Forestry Land use, tree tenure, enforcement actions
Environment Environmental compliance and sanctions
Engineering Services Works contracts and liability advice
Urban & Rural Water PPP agreements, water rights issues
PRS Data protection and information governance