On 18 January 2026, discussions around the Federal Government’s proposed Legal Practitioners Bill gained momentum within Nigeria’s legal community following its transmission to the National Assembly. The bill, which seeks to repeal the long-standing Legal Practitioners Act, proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory framework governing legal practice in Nigeria. Key elements of the proposed legislation include reforms to lawyer training and licensing, disciplinary procedures, continuing professional development, and institutional governance.
The bill has generated mixed reactions among legal practitioners. While some lawyers and stakeholders have expressed reservations about certain provisions, such as the introduction of a mandatory pupillage period and proposed distinctions in professional rank, these concerns have not translated into a formal position by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) condemning the bill as an attempt at executive control. Instead, the NBA has pushed back against claims that the proposed law would undermine the independence of the Bar or subject the profession to political interference.
NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has stated in public commentary that the association was consulted during the drafting process and contributed to the bill through previous National Executive Council resolutions, committee reports, and recommendations from its Annual General Conferences. According to the NBA, the bill was developed in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Body of Benchers, reflecting an effort to modernise legal regulation rather than weaken professional self-governance.
The Federal Government has framed the proposed legislation as part of broader legal sector reforms aimed at strengthening professional standards, improving accountability, and addressing perceived gaps in the existing regulatory regime. While debate continues among practitioners and stakeholders over the bill’s merits and potential implications, the NBA’s stated position, as reflected in available reporting, emphasises engagement and refinement of the legislation rather than outright opposition.