The 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sebastine Anya, has dismissed concerns that the proposed amendments to the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) would divest the NBA of its regulatory powers or transfer the issuance of practising licences to the Body of Benchers.
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In a statement addressing recent public discussions, Anya described such concerns as “unfounded” and stressed that a careful examination of the Bill before the National Assembly reveals the opposite: the amendments reinforce and strengthen the NBA’s authority over legal practice regulation in Nigeria.
Anya highlighted proposed Section 28 of the Bill, which explicitly vests the power to issue and renew practising licences in the NBA. He quoted the section verbatim, noting that it subjects legal practice to regulations made by the NBA and requires practitioners to obtain a practising licence from the Association before offering any legal services.
Key provisions outlined include:
- Licences to be issued or renewed based on payment of annual practising fees prescribed by the Bar Council, proof of good character, and completion of Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) credits administered or approved by the NBA.
- Strict prohibitions on practising without a valid licence, including appearing in courts, acting as in-house counsel, or holding oneself out as a legal practitioner.
- Obligations on the NBA to issue receipts for fees and publish annual lists of qualified practitioners.
Anya emphasised that the proposed section “expressly reinforces the NBA’s authority” and assigns all core functions—regulation, compliance monitoring, character assessment, CPD, and fee administration—solely to the Association.
“No provision confers licensing authority on the Body of Benchers, nor does any section remove, dilute, or transfer any existing regulatory powers of the NBA,” he stated, adding that interpretations suggesting otherwise lack textual support.
The NBA leader argued that the amendments codify the Association’s central role, align Nigeria’s legal profession with global best practices, and enhance accountability through structured licensing and professional development.
While welcoming robust debate and stakeholder engagement in the legislative process, Anya urged lawyers to base contributions on “accurate reading and faithful interpretation” of the Bill.
He encouraged members of the profession to carefully study the proposed legislation, participate in public hearings, and engage constructively to ensure reforms uphold the independence of the Bar and public confidence in the legal system.
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