CONTEMPORARY ISSUES UNDER THE NIGERIAN FAMILY LAW: THE NEED FOR LEGISLATIVE REVIEW TO CATALYSE GROWTH

Abstract

The study examines some available legislations in Nigeria that are relevant to family law and identifies some areas of family related issues which were due for reforms. These include bigamy, recognition of foreign marriage, Assisted Reproductive Technology, cohabitation, marriage requirement and many others. The study finds and concludes that some salient legal issues under the family law in Nigeria have not been adequately covered thereby creating lacuna due to constant societal change and outdated laws. The study recommends that relevant parts of Nigerian legislations on family related issues be amended to conform with the best international practices as well as societal sensitization on the current change in times and laws among others. The law reform is a continuous process that changes with time as the society develops in order to meet up with the global standard. This constant change in time and season brought in some new trends which the existing legislations regulating family law in Nigeria do not cover. This study looks at the various laws regulating family matters in Nigeria and identifies some gaps in them that require reform in order to align with the international best practices. This study adopts doctrinal method of legal research with the combination of both primary and secondary sources such as legislations, textbooks, case-laws, journal articles, and other relevant online materials.