Tinubu Sends Revised Legal Practitioners Bill to National Assembly for Sector Reforms
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted the Legal Practitioners Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025 to the National Assembly, seeking a sweeping overhaul of the laws guiding the legal profession in Nigeria.
The bill, read during Tuesday’s plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, aims to repeal the existing framework and replace it with a more modern, accountable, and globally aligned regulatory structure.
In the letter accompanying the bill, President Tinubu explained that the reforms are designed to strengthen ethical conduct within the legal sector, improve service delivery, and restore public trust in the justice system.
The proposed law introduces several significant changes, including mandatory licensing for all lawyers, compulsory continuous professional development, and a two-year tutelage programme for newly qualified legal practitioners.
According to the presidency, the bill provides for stricter regulatory oversight and enhanced discipline mechanisms to address longstanding concerns about professional misconduct and gaps in legal education.
The reforms are also expected to improve access to justice, ensuring that legal services are delivered more efficiently and with greater accountability.
The Senate is expected to refer the bill to its relevant committees for further legislative work, including stakeholder consultations with bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, law faculties, and judicial institutions.
Analysts say the proposal represents the most ambitious attempt to modernise Nigeria’s legal framework in decades and could fundamentally reshape how lawyers are trained, licensed, and monitored.
As the legislative process begins, the bill is already drawing attention across the legal community, with many anticipating robust debate over the implications of mandatory apprenticeship, increased regulation, and annual licensing requirements.
The presidency, however, maintains that the reforms are essential to aligning Nigeria’s legal profession with global best practices while improving public confidence in the justice sector.
