NBA raises regulations review committee

Worried about the falling standard of legal education, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, (SAN) has constituted the Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee.

While the managing partner of Punuka Attorney’s, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) would chair the committee, Dr. Aminu Gamawa would serve as its secretary.

The Bar Association had repeatedly expressed concerns in the falling standard of legal education and legal practice in the country.

“This is a disturbing phenomenon that must be addressed urgently and adequately. It is in addressing this issue that this committee is constituted,” Mahmoud stated, while inaugurating the committee.

The terms of reference of the committee include to review the current regulatory objectives and the regulatory architecture of the legal profession and advise on its suitability to meet the current requirements for a robust, responsive and independent modern legal profession in Nigeria.

They are also saddled with the responsibility of determining whether the NBA should retain both its regulatory and representative functions in the legal profession and if so, what necessary measures should be put in place to strengthen these roles and ensure that neither is compromised.

The committee would also review the role of the Body of Benchers, the General Council of the Bar, the Council for Legal Education, the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the NBA in the regulation of the legal profession and determine if the roles being played by these institutions and organs are appropriate to meet the needs of a robust and modern and independent legal profession in Nigeria.

According to the NBA president, the committee would also obtain proposed bills for review of the Legal Practitioners Act pending at the National Assembly and review same in the light of the recommendations arising from the work of the committee envisaged in the terms of reference.