A coalition of Nigerian lawyers, led by the Advocacy for Bar Licence Freedom (ABLIFE), has issued a stern ultimatum to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), demanding the immediate suspension of its Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) policy as a prerequisite for obtaining practicing certificates.
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The group, in a letter addressed to the NBA President, argues that the policy is unlawful, unconstitutional, and imposes undue hardship on legal practitioners, particularly junior and rural lawyers.
The controversy stems from the NBA’s requirement that lawyers complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit hours to renew their practicing licenses. ABLIFE, led by National Convener Amb. Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, Esq., and National Secretary Christabel Zoe Ayuk, Esq., contends that this policy oversteps the NBA’s authority and violates lawyers’ constitutional rights. The letter, supported by over 180 legal practitioners across Nigeria, was sent to the NBA National Secretariat, citing significant legal and economic concerns.
Legal Overreach: The coalition asserts that the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) does not grant the NBA authority to impose CPD requirements as a condition for issuing practicing certificates. This function, they argue, rests solely with the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court. The letter references cases like Okafor v. Nweke (2007), which emphasize strict compliance with legal procedures, to underline the NBA’s overreach.
Constitutional Violations: ABLIFE claims the policy infringes on Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees a fair hearing, and Section 17(3), which protects the right to work without discrimination. They argue that mandating CPD hours disproportionately affects less-privileged lawyers, creating an unfair barrier to practice.
Economic and Logistical Hardship: The letter highlights the financial burden of CPD programs, which are often costly and inaccessible to junior, rural, or less-connected lawyers. The high costs and logistical challenges, such as travel to urban centers for training, exacerbate inequalities within the profession.
ABLIFE has given the NBA five working days from the receipt of the letter to:
- Publicly suspend the MCPD policy as a prerequisite for practice.
- Initiate stakeholder consultations to devise a fair and lawful resolution.
Failure to comply, the group warns, will prompt legal action, public advocacy, petitions to oversight bodies, and engagement with domestic and international stakeholders to protect lawyers’ professional and constitutional rights.
The letter includes endorsements from lawyers across various NBA branches, including Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, Yobe, and Adamawa. Notable signatories include Amb. Hameed Ajibola Jimoh, Esq. (FCT-Abuja), Abduzeez T. Ahmed, Esq. (FCT-Abuja), Emmanuel Ejim, Esq. (Kaduna), and Olawale Esther Olayinka, Esq. (Lagos), among others. The diverse representation underscores the widespread discontent with the MCPD policy.
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As of July 9, 2025, the NBA has not publicly responded to ABLIFE’s letter. The association’s leadership, under the current NBA President, faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised..
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