In short: A new Nigerian law is published in an official government gazette. The gazette is a public record. This guide shows how to find the correct gazette for a law, how to request a copy from the publishing office, and what to do if the record is not immediately available. You will learn to identify the Federal or State Gazette Office, make a request, and receive a dated copy of the publication.
Before you start
Finding a gazette requires knowing which government level passed the law. A federal law is published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette. A state law is published in the official gazette of that state.
- The title of the law and the year it was assented to by the President or Governor.
- The name of the government printer or gazette office for the correct level of government.
- A physical address for the Federal Government Printer in Abuja or the State Government Printer in the state capital.
- A fee for obtaining a certified copy of the gazette, if required.
Steps
- Identify the government level. Determine if the law is a federal Act or a state law. Check the law's title for phrases like 'An Act of the National Assembly' or 'A Law of the [State Name] House of Assembly'.
- Locate the correct gazette office. For a federal law, the office is the Federal Government Printer, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Abuja. For a state law, find the State Government Printer or the Ministry of Information in the state capital.
- Request the gazette volume. Write a letter to the Government Printer. State the title of the law, the year it was assented to, and request a certified copy of the gazette in which it was published.
- Submit the request in person or by registered post. Go to the office address with your letter. If submitting by post, use a trackable service and keep the receipt.
- Follow up after one week. If you submitted in person, ask for a collection date. If you submitted by post, call the office to confirm receipt of your letter.
- Collect the gazette copy. Return to the office on the given date. Pay any required fee. Receive the certified copy. Check that the date of publication, the law title, and the full text are present and legible.
- Record the details. Note the gazette number, the date of publication, and the name of the officer who issued the copy. File your receipt and the copy together.
What to do if it goes wrong
Sometimes a request is delayed or a record cannot be found. These are the common problems and what to do.
- The office refuses to receive your letter. Ask for the name and designation of the officer who refused. Request a written note stating the reason for refusal. If the refusal is not given in writing, note the date, time, and the officer's name.
- The office says the gazette volume is not available. Ask when the volume will be available. Request a written confirmation of the delay. If the delay is indefinite, ask if a digital copy exists in the National Assembly or State House of Assembly library.
- The copy provided is incomplete or illegible. Point out the missing pages or illegible text to the issuing officer immediately. Request a replacement copy. Do not leave the office with a defective copy.
What you should end with
At the end of this process, you should hold a certified copy of the official gazette. The copy will have a stamp from the Government Printer's office. It will show the date the law was published. This dated copy is your proof of the law's official publication and the text as issued by the government.
What WATAG does with this
The WATAG Policy Advocacy programme trains participants to read policy documents and laws. The programme walks through the steps to find a government gazette. Participants practise writing a request letter and checking a gazette copy for completeness. This method is part of the skill set for reading and verifying the text of a new law.
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