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Adjourn legislative activities in honour of late Sen. Ezea
From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to consider and pass the Legal Practitioners Bill 2025, a major reform proposal aimed at tightening the regulation of the legal profession, strengthening ethical standards, and boosting public confidence in legal practice.
The bill, which seeks to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act originally enacted in 1962, was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio before plenary was adjourned till tomorrow in honour of the late Okey Ezea from Enugu State, who died last week.
In his letter to the upper chamber, President Tinubu said the existing legal framework had become outdated and inadequate, noting that “the proposed legislation introduces a modern legal framework to strengthen the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria and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.”
He emphasised that evolving issues around professional conduct, practitioner licensing and disciplinary enforcement necessitated a comprehensive review, adding that “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.”
The President highlighted several key provisions of the bill, including the introduction of objectives promoting the public interest, strengthening the rule of law, improving access to justice and enhancing public understanding of legal rights and duties.
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It also outlines the core principles guiding legal practitioners such as integrity, confidentiality and adherence to strict ethical standards, in addition to establishing the body responsible for admitting qualified persons into the profession.
The bill creates a Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee with powers to determine cases of misconduct and provides penalties ranging from reprimand and suspension to removal from the roll. It further proposes a mandatory two-year Post-Professional Legal Internship and compulsory Continuing Professional Development for all lawyers, as well as inspection and accreditation of law offices, issuance of practising licences and adoption of official practice seals.
Tinubu urged the Senate to give the bill expeditious consideration and passage, after which the red chamber mandated its Committee on Rules and Business to commence legislative work on the proposal and within 4 weeks.
In a separate letter also read by Akpabio, First Lady Remi Tinubu invited all senators to a dinner at the Presidential Villa on Friday, which the Senate President described as “a mother-to-children communication” and urged members to honour the invitation.
