The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has addressed recent misconceptions about its enforcement of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement and the issuance of practicing certificates for lawyers in Nigeria.
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In a detailed statement released by Prof. Festus Emiri, SAN, Board Chair of NBA-ICLE, and Prof. C.V. Odoeme, Board Secretary, the NBA emphasized that these rules are grounded in law and essential for maintaining high standards in the legal profession.
The NBA explained that the mandatory CPD requirement is not a new or arbitrary policy but is enshrined in the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC), specifically Rules 11 and 12. Under these rules, lawyers must participate in accredited courses, seminars, workshops, and other approved educational activities annually to remain eligible to practice law.
The association further clarified that practicing without a valid Annual Practicing Certificate issued by the NBA is prohibited. This certificate is only issued to lawyers who have complied with the CPD requirements and paid their practicing fees. Without these, a lawyer cannot appear in court, sign legal documents, or file papers in any official capacity.
To ease the burden on lawyers, especially younger and less-resourced practitioners, the NBA has significantly reduced the required CPD credit hours to just five per year regardless of years of call. The NBA also offers flexible and affordable options for earning CPD credits, including seminars, webinars, conferences, and even authoring legal articles or participating in moot courts.
Recognizing that some lawyers face financial hardship, the NBA has introduced a waiver policy to provide fee discounts, free event participation, and temporary extensions where necessary, ensuring no lawyer is excluded from practicing due to economic difficulties.
The NBA underscored that mandatory CPD is an international best practice designed to keep lawyers ethically grounded, professionally current, and competitive globally. The 2025 MCPD Rules, recently approved by the NBA National Executive Council, build upon longstanding rules dating back to 2007, reinforcing the NBA’s commitment to continuous professional growth.
In conclusion, the NBA refuted claims that it enforces these requirements without care or consideration. Instead, it emphasized that the association has made deliberate concessions and developed accessible programs, including upcoming free self-paced online courses, to support all lawyers in fulfilling their professional development obligations.
Lawyers are encouraged to visit nbaicle.org to register for CPD programs and access the MCPD rules. For further inquiries, the NBA can be contacted via email at icle@nigerianbar.org.ng or sarah.ajijola@nigerianbar.org.ng.
The NBA reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the legal profession in Nigeria through continuous education, urging all practitioners to comply with the MCPD requirements to enhance legal excellence and justice delivery nationwide.
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