WHEN 21ST CENTURY LAWYERS REJECT 21ST CENTURY (VIRTUAL) MEETING ATTENDANCE MODE

BY NGOZI PRINCE IGBO

The debate surrounding the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Uniform Bye-Law, particularly on eligibility to vote and be voted for, has continued to generate intense conversations within the legal profession.

At the heart of this controversy lies the decision of the NBA Election Appeal Committee (North) on virtual meeting attendance and the painful consequences it has had on many young lawyers whose democratic rights within the Bar appear to have been denied.

The NBA Uniform Bye-Law was introduced to ensure uniformity, discipline, accountability, and transparency across branches of the Association. While these objectives are commendable, the implementation of certain provisions especially those relating to eligibility requirements for elections has raised serious concerns among members, particularly young lawyers who form the energetic backbone of the profession. One of the contentious issues has been the interpretation of branch meeting attendance, especially virtual attendance, as a condition for qualification to vote or contest elections.

Following the evolution of technology, virtual meetings became an accepted reality during and after the COVID-19 era. Many branches of the NBA adopted online platforms to encourage wider participation of members who, due to distance, work schedules, financial constraints, or security concerns, could not physically attend meetings.

However, the decision of the NBA Election Appeal Committee (North) on virtual meeting attendance created a fresh layer of controversy. The ruling, which reportedly questioned or limited the recognition of virtual attendance for electoral qualification purposes in certain circumstances, has been viewed by many as a restrictive interpretation of participation within the Bar.

For us as young lawyers, the consequences have been painful and deeply discouraging. Many of us diligently attended meetings physically and virtually in good faith, believing we were fully participating members of our branches. We contributed to discussions, paid our dues, engaged in branch activities, and supported the Association’s programmes. Yet, when the time came to exercise our democratic rights either to vote or to contest, we found ourselves disqualified on technical grounds relating to attendance records.

This situation has created a growing feeling of exclusion among young members of the Bar. A profession that ought to encourage inclusiveness, mentorship, and equal opportunity must be careful not to erect procedural barriers that alienate the next generation of legal practitioners. Democracy within the NBA should not only exist in principle but must also be seen in practice through fairness, accessibility, and equal participation.

The legal profession in Nigeria is already facing enormous challenges including poor remuneration for young lawyers, limited opportunities, increasing economic hardship, and professional frustration. Denying young lawyers the opportunity to participate fully in the affairs of the Association only deepens their sense of marginalization. Many now question whether the system truly protects the interests of emerging lawyers or merely preserves established structures.

It is important to state that rules and bye-laws are necessary for order, but such laws must be interpreted in a manner that advances justice rather than technical exclusion. The NBA, as the foremost association of legal practitioners, must always lean towards substantial justice, equity, and progressive interpretation, especially in matters affecting participation and representation.

The controversy also highlights the urgent need for clearer guidelines regarding virtual meetings and attendance recognition within the NBA framework. In a rapidly evolving digital world, virtual participation can no longer be treated as inferior to physical attendance, if a lawyer can pay his membership dues virtually, NEC meetings provide virtual attendance, I don’t see any reason on earth why virtual attendance should not be substantive enough to validate members’ eligibility to vote and be voted for during election. Technology has become an essential tool for inclusion, and the Association must adapt accordingly.

There is therefore a compelling need for reforms that will protect the voting and electoral rights of all members, particularly young lawyers. The NBA leadership must ensure that electoral processes are transparent, inclusive, and free from unnecessary technicalities capable of disenfranchising members.

Young lawyers are not merely future leaders of the Bar, they are present stakeholders whose voices, aspirations, and contributions matter. Any system that weakens their confidence in the Association risks creating long-term division and disillusionment within the profession.

I call on the NBA to rise above procedural rigidity and embrace a more inclusive approach that reflects the realities of modern legal practice. Justice, fairness, and participation should remain the foundation upon which the Association stands.

Ngozi Prince Igbo is an Abuja based lawyer

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