President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, took a significant step towards reforming Nigeria’s legal profession to meet contemporary challenges and ensure justice is upheld across the country.
The President formally transmitted to the Senate, a proposed legislation titled ‘Legal Practitioners Bill 2025’, which seeks to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, Laws of the Federation 2004, originally enacted in 1962.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, read Tinubu’s communication on the bill shortly before adjourning plenary in honour of the late Senator Okey Ezea, who represented Enugu North Senatorial District on the platform of the Labour Party and passed away last week following a brief illness at the age of 62.
According to Tinubu, “The proposed legislation introduces a modern legal framework to strengthen the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria and to provide the necessary reforms that will enhance professional standards, disciplinary mechanisms, and public confidence in legal practice.”
The President posited in the letter that evolving challenges in regulating professional conduct, licensing practitioners, and establishing appropriate disciplinary measures have made a comprehensive review necessary.
He said: “This bill provides for greater accountability, stronger professional ethics, and a more transparent regulatory structure—critical reforms in view of the growing domestic and international demand for legal services in Nigeria.
“Key provisions of the bill include Section 1: Outlines the objectives of the Act, including promoting and protecting the public interest, strengthening the rule of law, improving access to justice, and increasing public understanding of legal rights and duties.
“Section 2 establishes the core principles guiding legal practitioners, including integrity, confidentiality, and high ethical standards.
“Section 3 establishes the body responsible for admitting qualified persons into the legal profession.
“Section 17 establishes the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, empowered to consider and determine cases of professional misconduct.
“Section 18 provides a range of penalties for misconduct, including suspension, restriction, reprimand, and removal from the roll.
“Sections 25–26 introduce a mandatory two-year Post-Professional Legal Internship (PPLI) and compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all legal practitioners.
“Sections 27–29 provide for the inspection and accreditation of law offices, issuance of practising licences, and adoption of official practice seals and stamps.”
Other notable provisions in the bill include a mandatory two-year pupillage, compulsory ongoing education for legal professionals, standardized licensing, and official stamps and seals to authenticate legal documents.
Accordingly, Tinubu sought the Senate’s expeditious consideration and passage of the bill just as the Red Chamber
referred it to the Committee on Rules and Business for detailed consideration, with a report expected within the next four weeks.
Meanwhile the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in a different letter, also read during the plenary, invited all the senators for a dinner at the Aso Villa on Friday this week.
The Senate President, who also read the letter, urged his colleagues to treat the invitation as mother to children communication.