The first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting under the leadership of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN will hold at NBA House, Abuja on Thursday, December 6, 2018.

In a notice obtained by CITY LAWYER, the NBA leadership also jettisoned the usual printing of the NEC Bundle and other documents.

Instead, it stated that “Documents for the NEC Meeting would be circulated to NEC Members by e-mail ahead of the Meeting Date. Members are therefore encouraged to attend the NEC meeting with their devices (Laptops, I-Pads, smart phones etc.) containing such previously downloaded Meeting Documents.”

While Usoro had at this year’s Legal Year ceremony hinted on the need to mainstream technology in the legal industry, the shift may however not be unconnected with the financial challenges besetting the lawyers’ body.

CITY LAWYER had reported that NBA had fallen on hard times financially, chased on all sides by creditors and unable to pay salary as it falls due. This has raised concerns on the state of finances met by the new regime, leading to its hiring of Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to conduct a forensic audit of NBA accounts.

The decision to hold the meeting in Abuja may also not be unconnected with the lack of sponsors for the NEC Meeting which is usually funded by state governments.

Although a source at NBA House told CITY LAWYER that Gombe State initially indicated interest in hosting the meeting, it was unclear at press time why the arrangement did not pull through.

Below is a text of the notice:

12 NOVEMBER 2018

FROM: THE GENERAL SECRETARY
TO: ALL STATUTORY NEC MEMBERS
SUBJECT: NOTICE OF NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC) MEETING

Dear Sir,

There will be a National Executive Committee meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association on the date and at the time and venue specified hereunder:

DATE: Thursday, 06 December 2018 (Arrival on Wednesday, 05 December 2018 and Departure on Friday, 07 December 2018
TIME 9:00 AM PROMPT
VENUE: NBA Auditorium, NBA House, Plot 1101 Muhamadu Buhari Way, Cadastral Zone A00 Central Area, Abuja – FCT

AGENDA

1. NEC Prayer
2. Minutes of the NEC Meeting of Sunday, 26 November 2018
3. Matters Arising from the Minutes
4. President’s Speech
5. Finance Reports and Ancillary Matters
6. NBA Committees– Reports and Ancillary Issues
7. Rule of Law and Related Matters/State of the Nation
8. Any Other Business

Please note that attendance for this NEC meeting is limited only to Statutory NEC members made up of the following:

1. National Officers
2. Past Presidents
3. Past General Secretaries
4. Branch Chairmen
5. Branch Secretaries
6. Branch NEC Representatives
7. Chairmen and Secretaries of Sections

Documents for the NEC Meeting would be circulated to NEC Members by e-mail ahead of the Meeting Date. Members are therefore encouraged to attend the NEC meeting with their devices (Laptops, I-Pads, smart phones etc.) containing such previously downloaded Meeting Documents. Members may also wish to print and bring with them hard-copies of the Documents for the meeting.

For further inquiries, please contact the General Secretary or Ms. Ayodeji Oni at the NBA Secretariat, Bar Services Department on 08130250565, 08033452825. For bookings and reservations of hotel accommodation, please contact the National Welfare Secretary, Joseph Usman, on 08036551963.

Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Esq
General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association