The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has issued a series of directives aimed at addressing growing concerns over the affordability and accessibility of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for lawyers across the country.
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In a statement released Tuesday, Osigwe acknowledged the complaints raised by legal practitioners—particularly young lawyers—regarding the high cost of some Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) programs. He revealed that a meeting was held with the Director of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and the leadership of the Young Lawyers Forum to deliberate on the issue and chart a more inclusive way forward.
Following the consultation, the NBA President announced the following key resolutions:
- Voluntary Participation: No lawyer will be compelled to attend any specific CPD training. Every lawyer retains the right to choose which accredited training sessions to attend.
- Clarification of Payment Channels: All payments for CPD courses are to be made directly to the service providers offering the trainings—not to the Nigerian Bar Association.
- NBA’s Role: The NBA’s responsibility is to publicize available accredited CPD trainings, providing lawyers with access to diverse educational opportunities without imposing them.
- Free Training Options: Lawyers can meet the mandatory five (5) CPD hours annually by attending free seminars offered by accredited bodies or by participating in free trainings organized by NBA ICLE, NBA branches, or recognized service providers.
- Review of Course Fees: The NBA-ICLE Board has been directed to immediately exercise its oversight powers to vet CPD course fees and ensure they remain reasonable and affordable for all lawyers.
- Commitment to Access and Quality: The directives aim to guarantee that legal practitioners can access high-quality professional development at transparent and accessible pricing.
- Expansion of Free Trainings: The ICLE Board will begin implementing initiatives to expand the availability of free legal trainings nationwide.
- Branch-Level Recognition: CPD points may also be earned through accredited NBA branch-level programmes and activities.
- Programme Accreditation: NBA branches, university law faculties, and legal training institutes are encouraged to seek accreditation for some of their courses, thereby enabling participating lawyers to claim CPD points.
Osigwe reiterated the NBA’s commitment to promoting fairness, access to continuing education, and the intellectual growth of its members.
NBA ICLE PRESS RELEASE“The ICLE system is intended to enhance the development and competence of lawyers, not cause untold hardship. We will continue to engage stakeholders to ensure the Continuing Legal Education framework remains affordable, responsive, inclusive, and empowering for all members of the legal profession,” Osigwe affirmed.
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