Section 5: Functions of the Commission.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the Commission shall generally research, take and keep under review all Federal laws with a view to their systematic and progressive development and reform in consonance with the prevailing norms of Nigerian society including, in particular, the codification of such laws, the elimination of anomalies, the repeal of obsolete, spent and unnecessary enactments, the reduction in number of separate enactments, the reform of procedural laws in consonance with changes in the machinery of the administration of justice and generally the simplification and modernisation of the law.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the Commission-
(a) shall receive and consider any proposal for the reform of the law which may be made or referred to it by the Attorney-General of the Federation (in this Act referred to as the "Attorney-General") or the National Assembly;
(b) may prepare on its own initiative and submit to the Attorney-General and the National Assembly, programme for the examination of different branches of the law with a view to reform;
(c) shall undertake, pursuant to any recommendation approved by the
"Attorney-General" or the National Assembly the examination of particular branches of the law and the formulation, by means of draft legislation or otherwise, of proposal for reform therein;
(d) shall prepare, at the request of the Attorney-General or the National
Assembly, comprehensive programmes of consolidation and statute law
revision and undertake, the preparation of draft legislation pursuant to any
such programme approved by the Attorney-General or the National
Assembly ;
(e) may provide advice and information to Federal Government
departments and other authorities or bodies concerned, at the instance of
the Federal Government, with proposals for the reform or amendment of
any branch of the law ; and
(f) may provide training on law reform and other related matters for a fee.
(3) The Attorney-General or the National Assembly may-
(a) modify the terms of a reference; and
(b) give directions to the Commission as to the order in which it is to deal with references.
(4) Every Federal Ministry, Department or Agency shall notify and may collaborate with the Commission in its law reform exercises.
(5) For the purpose of the efficient performance of its functions under this Act, the Commission shall-
(a) engage in research into any branch of law or related subject; and
(b) where appropriate obtain such information as to the legal systems of other countries.
(6) The Commission may conduct such seminars and, where appropriate, hold such public sittings concerning any programme for law reform as it may consider necessary and may carry out public enlightenment programmes on
law reform activities.
(7) Where the Attorney-General refers or approves a programme to the Commission, the Attorney-General shall lay before the Federal Executive Council any report prepared by the Commission pursuant to such programme,
and after expiration of 3 months from the date of submission of the Commission’s report to the Attorney-General, the Commission shall forward same to the National Assembly.
(8) Where any authority, body or person refers a programme to the Commission, the Commission shall forward to that authority, body or person any report of proposals for reform formulated by the Commission pursuant to such programme.
(9) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Commission shall be autonomous in its day-to-day operations.
(10) For the purposes of subsection (1) "Federal laws" means all laws within the legislative competence of the Government of the Federation and includes all received laws and rules of law in force in the Federation and having effect as if enacted by the Federal legislature and all procedural laws and all subsidiary instruments made under or pursuant to any such law.