The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reiterated its firm commitment to implementing the mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme for legal practitioners in Nigeria. In a statement signed by the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Association made it clear that the enforcement of Rules 11 and 12 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC), 2023, and the provisions of the NBA MCPD Rules, 2025, will neither be suspended nor scrapped.
The NBA emphasized that these mandatory CPD provisions, which first appeared in the 2007 RPC, have never been strictly enforced—until now. “The implementation of these mandatory provisions will neither be suspended nor scrapped,” the statement read, warning that non-compliant lawyers will be deemed to have voluntarily chosen to suffer the legal consequences associated with such a decision.
According to the NBA, the RPC is a subsidiary legislation enacted by the General Council of the Bar under Section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act. It therefore derives its legitimacy from the principal legislation and is legally binding on all legal practitioners. The NBA referenced case law including DIN v. A.G.F (1988) and Ishola v. Ajiboye (1994) to reinforce the legal status of the RPC.
“The Rules were made for the maintenance of the highest standards of professional conduct, etiquette and discipline,” the statement continued. It further noted that the NBA is constitutionally empowered to regulate and monitor legal practice, uphold the obligations of lawyers, promote law reform, and defend the rule of law and human rights.
Addressing criticisms of the MCPD programme, the NBA said it would not be deterred by the threat of lawsuits or misinformation circulated on social media. “We all have a duty to obey and indeed ensure that the Rules of Professional Conduct are complied with by lawyers,” the Association stated.
Lawyers were reminded of their obligations under Rule 1 of the RPC, which mandates them to uphold the rule of law, promote justice, and maintain a high standard of conduct. “We owe allegiance to a higher cause: the cause of truth and justice,” the NBA President said.
In a move to ensure inclusivity and affordability, the NBA encouraged lawyers to take advantage of free CPD training offered by the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE) and other accredited providers. Lawyers are not compelled to attend specific CPD programmes and are free to choose from a variety of accredited options to meet the minimum annual requirement of five CPD credit hours.
“No lawyer will be compelled to attend any accredited Continuing Professional Development training,” the NBA assured, reiterating its commitment to providing access to quality legal education at reasonable and transparent costs.
The statement concludes with a call to action: “We call on all lawyers to utilize all training opportunities to ensure they meet the stipulated minimum credit hours,” reaffirming that compliance is not only a professional duty but also a legal obligation.
