In a bold and thought-provoking commentary, renowned legal practitioner and public policy analyst Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani, SAN, has called for urgent reforms within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urging its leadership to reorient its priorities and act decisively in addressing the core challenges affecting Nigerian lawyers.
Titled “Reinventing the Nigerian Bar Association: Urgent Imperatives for Reformative and Caring Leadership”, the article, which has gained traction across legal circles, lays bare the growing dissatisfaction among lawyers regarding the NBA’s perceived detachment from the real struggles facing its members—especially those in public service and the grassroots of legal practice.
“There is a resounding consensus among Nigerian lawyers that the NBA leadership has not adequately addressed the welfare, dignity, and professional advancement of its members,” Dr. Ubani wrote.
Key Issues Highlighted
Stagnation in Public Sector Legal Careers
Dr Ubani decried the continued exclusion of public sector lawyers from contesting certain NBA offices and lamented the NBA’s failure to advocate for better career entry points and remuneration, unlike other professional bodies such as those representing doctors or engineers.
Silence on Judicial Frustrations
He highlighted persistent abuses within the court system, including arbitrary fees, unethical practices in court registries, and prolonged enforcement procedures. According to him, the NBA’s silence on these institutional indignities has left many lawyers vulnerable and demoralised.
Decline in Judicial Efficiency
Referencing the National Industrial Court and several high courts, Dr Ubani noted the growing delays in filings, service, and case assignments—challenges that now mirror broader inefficiencies within the justice system. “These delays are driving litigation lawyers into professional poverty,” he warned.
Neglect of Nigerian Law School and TETFund
He further criticized the NBA for not advocating for the inclusion of the Nigerian Law School in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), despite other institutions like the Nigerian Defence Academy benefiting from it.
Security Agencies’ Harassment of Lawyers
In strong terms, Dr Ubani condemned the harassment and unconstitutional treatment of lawyers by security operatives. He described as “barbaric” the denial of phone access to lawyers in security facilities, urging the NBA to legally challenge such infractions.
Justice Delayed: The Appeal Bottleneck
He also brought attention to the excessive delays in listing cases at appellate courts, where some appeals languish for 7 to 10 years.
According to him, the economic and psychological toll on lawyers and litigants is devastating and incompatible with a functioning democracy.
A Ray of Hope and a Challenge to Lead
While noting these grave concerns, Dr Ubani acknowledged recent progress under the current NBA leadership led by Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN. He praised Osigwe’s proactive posture, commitment to a harmonised scale of fees for property transactions, and improved engagement with the Bar.
“This write-up is not to diminish his achievements, but an earnest appeal to use the remaining one year of his tenure to confront and resolve these pressing issues,” Ubani stated.
The Time for Action
Dr Ubani concluded his call to action by urging the NBA to reimagine its leadership model—not as a body that appears only during conferences and elections but one that remains vocal, visible, and protective in the trenches of legal practice.
“The future of the legal profession depends on a Bar that is vibrant, inclusive, assertive, and unapologetically committed to the cause of its members. The time to act is now!”
His commentary has sparked widespread reflection among lawyers, many of whom believe the reform agenda outlined is long overdue.
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