In a bid to tackle growing discontent over the rising costs of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has unveiled new directives to overhaul the administration and accessibility of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training nationwide.
The decision followed a high-level meeting convened by NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, alongside the Director of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and leaders of the Young Lawyers Forum. The meeting was prompted by complaints, particularly from younger lawyers, about the affordability and perceived compulsion of CPD programmes.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the NBA clarified that CPD participation is strictly voluntary, and no lawyer will be mandated to attend any particular training. “Every lawyer has the right to choose which training to attend,” the association affirmed.
The NBA also distanced itself from the payment structure of CPD programmes, explaining that all fees are paid directly to service providers, not the association. The NBA’s role, it said, is limited to publicising accredited CPD opportunities for the benefit of its members.
To address cost-related concerns, the NBA has directed the ICLE Board to vet and approve the pricing of CPD courses to ensure affordability and transparency. The Board was also tasked with ensuring the continuous availability of free training sessions across the country.
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Lawyers can fulfil their annual five-hour CPD requirement by attending free seminars from accredited institutions or participating in NBA-organised programmes at the national and branch levels.
According to Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President, Nigerian Bar Association, branch-level trainings and activities will now count toward CPD credits, and the ICLE Board has been encouraged to collaborate with law faculties and legal training institutes to accredit their programmes, thereby widening access to CPD credit-earning opportunities.
“The NBA remains committed to fostering a professional environment that upholds fairness, access to knowledge, and the highest standards of ethical and intellectual engagement,” Osigwe stated.
He emphasised that the ICLE system should support the growth and competence of lawyers, not impose financial burdens.
The Association reaffirmed its pledge to continue engaging stakeholders to ensure that the legal education framework in Nigeria remains “affordable, responsive, inclusive, and empowering for all members of the legal profession.”