By Henry Umoru

Abuja – President Bola Tinubu has transmitted a bill to the Senate seeking the repeal and re-enactment of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, Laws of the Federation 2004, originally enacted in 1962.

The Legal Practitioners Bill, 2025 aims to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework, strengthen regulation of the legal profession, and enhance public confidence in legal practice.

The bill introduces reforms designed to uphold professional standards, improve disciplinary mechanisms, and ensure accountability among legal practitioners. Key measures include a mandatory two-year Post-Professional Legal Internship (PPLI) and compulsory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for all legal practitioners.

President Tinubu, in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday, explained that the bill seeks to:

Promote and protect public interest and the rule of law.

Strengthen professional ethics and conduct.

Improve transparency in regulation of legal services.

Establish a Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee empowered to investigate and discipline misconduct, with penalties including suspension or removal from the legal roll.

Introduce provisions for inspection and accreditation of law offices, issuance of practising licences, and adoption of official practice seals and stamps.

The President noted that evolving challenges in regulating professional conduct and licensing lawyers necessitated a comprehensive review of the existing law. He urged the Senate to consider the bill expeditiously.

Senate President Akpabio subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for legislative action, with feedback expected within four weeks.