The General Council of the Bar (GCB) has passed a vote of confidence on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, while resolving to establish a committee to review the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Legal Practitioners.
This decision was taken during the Council’s meeting held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Hotel Seventeen Conference Centre in Kaduna State, where members gathered to deliberate on matters central to the administration and regulation of legal practice in Nigeria.
The opening session featured remarks by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who underscored the need to reposition and resuscitate the Bar Council in line with its statutory mandate under Section 1 of the Legal Practitioners Act.
Following the opening ceremony, the Council proceeded to a technical session where it considered proposed amendments to the Legal Practitioners Act, the NBA’s policy on Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) under Rule 11 of the RPC, and the question of whether trade or business activities are compatible with legal practice under Rule 7 of the RPC.
In its deliberations, the Council noted that while the Legal Practitioners Act provides the framework for regulating legal practice, several gaps remain which require urgent attention. It was further observed that the President has sanctioned the development of amendments to the Act, incorporating feedback from stakeholders across the legal profession.
On the contentious issue of Mandatory CPD, the Council acknowledged the growing agitation among lawyers but affirmed that the programme is in compliance with the existing RPC provisions. It resolved that:
A vote of confidence be passed on the current NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, for his innovative and progressive leadership.
The ongoing CPD programme of the NBA is lawful and aligns with the objectives of professional development for legal practitioners.
A committee be constituted to undertake a comprehensive review of the RPC and recommend reforms to address identified gaps.
Participants at the meeting commended the Federal Ministry of Justice for its leadership in strengthening the General Council of the Bar and expressed optimism that the resolutions reached would significantly contribute to the advancement of the legal profession in Nigeria.
General Council Of The Bar Council
The meeting was presided over by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in his capacity as President of the General Council of the Bar.
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