President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to consider and pass the Legal Practitioners Bill 2025, a comprehensive reform proposal aimed at modernising the regulatory framework for legal practice in Nigeria.
According to a report by TheCable newspaper on Tuesday, the request was conveyed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.
Tinubu explained that the bill seeks to repeal the Legal Practitioners Act of 1962, currently codified as Cap L11, Laws of the Federation 2004. He said the proposed legislation introduces a modern structure designed to strengthen regulation, improve professional standards, and boost public confidence in the legal profession.
According to the president, the reforms have become necessary due to emerging challenges in regulating professional conduct, enforcing discipline, and ensuring legal accountability. He noted that lawyers play a critical role in sustaining justice and the rule of law, and that the existing framework no longer meets contemporary demands.
Tinubu said the draft bill outlines its objectives in Section 1, including the promotion of public interest, the advancement of the rule of law, and the enhancement of access to justice. Section 2 spells out core professional principles such as integrity, confidentiality, and duty to clients and the courts.
He added that Section 3 reaffirms the Body of Benchers as the authority responsible for admitting qualified persons to the bar. Section 17 establishes a disciplinary committee to determine cases of professional misconduct, while Section 18 provides for penalties such as suspension, restriction of practice, reprimand, or removal from the roll of legal practitioners.
The president also noted that Sections 25 and 26 introduce compulsory two-year pupillage, continuing legal education requirements, and a new system of practising licences authenticated by official seals.
Tinubu urged lawmakers to give the bill prompt consideration, describing it as an essential step toward a stronger, more transparent, and globally competitive legal profession in Nigeria.
