Tinubu Seeks Overhaul of Legal Profession With New Regulatory Bill

From William Okeke

President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a new executive bill to the Senate, seeking the repeal of the Legal Practitioners Act, 2004, and its replacement with a modern framework that strengthens regulation, discipline, and ethical standards in Nigeria’s legal profession.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter during plenary on Tuesday.

Tinubu said the existing law, originally enacted in 1962, can no longer address persistent lapses in professional conduct and accountability within the legal sector. He added that a comprehensive reform is necessary to restore public trust and meet the growing demands for legal services locally and internationally.

According to the president, the proposed legislation “introduces a new legal framework to enhance professional standards, disciplinary mechanisms, and public confidence in legal practice in Nigeria.”

New Disciplinary Structure

Although the full draft of the bill was not made public, Tinubu’s letter shows that Section 17 creates a Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) with powers to hear cases of professional misconduct.
Section 18 outlines penalties including suspension, restriction, reprimand, or outright removal from the bar.

Currently, Nigeria’s disciplinary structure is split between the National Judicial Council (NJC)—which handles misconduct cases involving judges—and the existing LPDC under the Body of Benchers, which oversees discipline for other legal practitioners.

Mandatory Tutelage, Licensing Regime

Sections 25 and 26 of the draft introduce a two-year mandatory tutelage period before newly qualified practitioners can operate independently. They also propose compulsory continuing professional development, practising licences, and the mandatory use of stamps and seals for authenticating legal documents.
It remains unclear whether the tutelage requirement would apply solely to lawyers or also to judicial officers.

Protecting Public Interest

The bill’s objectives, outlined in Section 1, include promoting public interest, strengthening the rule of law, improving access to justice, and increasing citizens’ awareness of their rights and obligations.

Section 2 sets out the core ethical principles expected of legal practitioners—integrity, confidentiality, professionalism, and duty to clients and the courts—while Section 3 reaffirms the Body of Benchers as the authority responsible for admitting new lawyers to the bar.

Senate President Akpabio has referred the bill to the Committee on Rules and Business, with a directive to report back within four weeks.