Download the draft of the Legal Practitioners Bill, 2025, as President Bola Tinubu has formally transmitted the proposed legislation to the National Assembly in a bold attempt to reshape Nigeria’s legal System.
The executive bill, read for the first time today in both chambers, seeks to repeal the outdated Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (originally enacted in 1962) and replace it with a modern regulatory framework for the legal profession.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the bill’s arrival in the House of Representatives, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio laid it before the Senate, paving the way for committee-level scrutiny.
“This isn’t mere legislation; it is a blueprint for accountability in an era where legal services must match global standards,” Tinubu stated in his cover letter. Amid concerns over ethical breaches, delayed justice, and evolving international demands, the bill promises enhanced regulation, ethical rigour, and public trust. With Nigeria’s legal sector serving over 200,000 practitioners and contributing significantly to economic growth, stakeholders from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to civil society groups are examining the 44-section draft and urging swift passage with broad stakeholder input.
The bill’s structure, spanning 11 parts and schedules, outlines a comprehensive overhaul — from ethical principles to disciplinary enforcement. Below is a breakdown of its key components, drawn from the draft:
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