NBA REMUNERATION COMMITTEE PROBES FIVE PETITIONS OVER ALLEGED BREACH OF 2023 REMUNERATION ORDER

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Remuneration Committee has commenced investigations into five petitions filed against legal practitioners accused of violating the provisions of the Legal Practitioners (Remuneration )Order 2023 (LPRO 2023).

The Chairman of the Committee, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, made this disclosure during the plenary session of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) Annual Conference while presenting an overview of the Remuneration Order.

According to Chief Obegolu, the petitions, submitted by lawyers and members of the public, reflect growing concern about the widespread undercutting of professional fees despite the binding nature of the Order.

He reassured participants that while the Committee continues to promote voluntary compliance, it “will not shy away from enforcing the provisions, including referring defaulting members to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).”

A Landmark Reform: Inside the 2023 Remuneration Order

In his presentation, Chief Obegolu described the 2023 Order as “one of the most significant regulatory interventions in modern Nigerian legal practice.”

The Order, signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation as Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Committee (LPRC), came into effect on May 16, 2023, and was gazetted on June 5, 2023. It revoked the 1991 remuneration framework, which had become obsolete and limited in scope.

Developed through strong collaboration between the NBA Remuneration Committee and the reconstituted LPRC, the Order establishes standardized, minimum fees for:

• Non-contentious business
• Legal advisory services
• Corporate/commercial work
• Litigation and court representation

It applies nationwide, adopting a tiered structure based on a lawyer’s years of post-call experience and the newly established three-band state economic classification model.

Key Objectives and Innovations

The LPRO 2023 introduces far-reaching reforms, including:

• Standardised Minimum Fees: Eliminates undercutting and promotes sustainable practice.
• Transparency: Requires written terms of engagement to avoid disputes.
• Support for Young Lawyers: Sets clear minimum earnings, a response to NBA advocacy since 2022.
• Zonal Equity: Adjusts fees across three economic bands for fairness and affordability.
• Expanded Scope: Goes beyond land matters to cover incorporations, advisory services, probate, litigation, e-filings, virtual hearings, and more.
• Discount & Pro Bono Regulation: Discounts must be justified; pro bono requires sworn affidavits to curb abuse.

The State Band Structure

Nigeria is categorised into three economic bands, guiding minimum fee applications based on practice location or service venue:

• Band 1: Lagos, Ogun, Rivers, FCT Abuja, Kano, Anambra
• Band 2: Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ondo, Osun, Ekiti
• Band 3: All remaining states not in Bands 1 or 2

Impact on Lawyers, Clients, and the Profession

The 2023 Order is expected to raise professional earnings, particularly for young lawyers, while also improving transparency for clients who now receive clear cost expectations at the onboarding stage.

By aligning with the Rules of Professional Conduct 2023, it strengthens ethical billing and creates uniformity across states.

Branches of the NBA have begun full enforcement, with many adopting local compliance guidelines during branch meetings.

A New Era of Accountability

Chief Obegolu emphasised that the Committee’s enforcement mandate is clear and active. With five petitions under investigation, the NBA is signaling its seriousness about protecting the integrity of the profession and ensuring lawyers are appropriately remunerated.

He assured the legal community that the Committee remains committed to both sensititisation and strict enforcement, noting that the success of the Remuneration Order ultimately depends on the collective responsibility of all practitioners.

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