BUILDING A STRONGER, PROFESSIONAL BAR: MY RESPONSE TO JOHN BEN
By the President of the Nigerian Bar Association
John Ben, as my people say, “Wisdom is like a goatskin bag; everyone carries his own.”
At the risk of being misdescribed, I reiterate that the implementation of RPC-mandated CPD will neither be scrapped nor suspended. In any case, we can’t even scrap a provision of law.
I didn’t make the law. It was the General Council of the Bar that stipulated in Rule 11(1) RPC that “a lawyer who wishes to carry on practice as a legal practitioner shall participate in and satisfy the requirements of the mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme operated by the Nigerian Bar Association.”
It wasn’t me or the NBA.
The complimentary stamp was started as a palliative during COVID-19 and was stopped before I was sworn in as NBA President. Even if it wasn’t stopped, our administration would have stopped it as it was economically unsustainable. At last year’s cost of about ₦170 million, there was no way NBA would have continued to give out free stamp.
You complained about increment in the cost of stamp as if you are not aware that cost of everything has gone up. As a result of NBA’s refusal to renegotiate a new price for stamp, production and distribution of stamp was problematic before we assumed office.
We declared an emergency on it and didn’t announce an increment in price until we held an emergency meeting with Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA Branches alongside the company producing the stamp. At the meeting, we had a frank conversation and negotiation with the producer after which it was agreed to adjust the price.
You may not know it but the NBA takes nothing out of the money lawyers pay for stamps. The entire money is paid over to the company producing the stamps. Notwithstanding this, NBA still bears the attendant cost of developing and maintaining the infrastructure for stamp application, processing and distribution of the stamps.
The increment in the price would not put any money in the coffers of NBA. The sole benefit we get is that the production of stamp is not disrupted and lawyers get their stamps.
I don’t know where you got your information but the AGC fees was NEVER increased for any category of lawyers despite the economic situation dictating otherwise. You can in fact confirm that the AGC fees for young lawyers this year is the same amount they paid last year.
“I have no doubt that change is difficult, but we must brace ourselves to do that which we are not used to doing before — especially with regard to a mandatory requirement of law.”
“We have a duty to obey the law. We can’t shy away from doing so.”
It is not even an excuse that we should not implement it because other NBA Presidents did not do so. The time has come to do so, more so since it was enacted in the RPC since 2007.
“This may not win me applause among people who may not see the rationale for it. But the benefits of embracing continuing professional development far outweigh whatever complaints may accompany the implementation.”
“The time to change in this regard has come, and I urge you to join hands to make it work.”
NBA also cannot continue to give away free LawPavilion which was introduced as a COVID-19 palliative. Even the price of the same has gone up. NBA has to take difficult decisions in the light of the dire economic situation we are in.
I must also note that even though the number of lawyers keeps going up every year, the purchasing power of the Naira has not been what it used to be. We must also invest now in infrastructure that will make for a technologically driven Association.
We have done so much to advance the legal profession as well as protecting our legal services and practitioners, that it’d be immodest for me to outline them. You have my assurance that we are strongly committed to building a Bar that is respected and which will always be counted as one that cannot be found wanting at critical moments.
“I was elected to serve, and serve I will. Providing leadership means we have to sometimes take difficult but unpleasant decisions. Trust me, whatever we do, we do in the best interest of the Nigerian lawyers.”
“We want an independent Bar and this can only be built by ensuring that our lawyers are as knowledgeable and professionally up-to-date as lawyers in any part of the world.”
“Time will tell whether the implementation of this law will not be remembered as a positive turning point in the legal profession.”
I will always be true to the motto of the NBA which mandates us to promote the rule of law. We cannot do that if we treat mandatory provisions of the RPC as dead letter laws. It is time we gave such provisions life by insisting on compliance with them, as they were not put as mere decorative pieces in the RPC.
The free trainings being organized by NBA-ICLE, NBA branches, and other service providers will ensure that the MCPD will not impose financial hardship on those who would find it difficult to make up the five credit points if only paid trainings were available.
I will not fail to thank you for your comments as they afforded me an opportunity to offer some explanation that I may not ordinarily be able to offer if you did not publicly express them.
“Lest I forget, I am not a despot. If however you found the tone of any of my statements or comments offensive, please find a place in your heart to forgive me.”
“Let us continually work together to enthrone a Bar that is professional, progressive and produces lawyers that are in sync with the changing face of legal practice and in line with international best practices. This Bar is ours and we all have a duty to take it to greater heights.”
Do have a beautiful weekend.
President, Nigerian Bar Association
#NBALeadership #RuleOfLaw #MCPD #LegalReform #StrongerBar
