Some young lawyers under the aegis of “Decent Fees” have launched an online petition against the fees approved by the Nigerian  Bar Association (NBA) National Executive Council (NBA-NEC) for the forthcoming NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).

CITY LAWYER recalls that the Chairperson of the NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee (AGCPC) Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya had yesterday presented the proposed AGC rates to NBA-NEC for approval at its meeting in Yola.

But the young lawyers have kicked against the rates, saying: “The decision to impose such a hefty fee for attending the NBA conference disproportionately affects young lawyers, many of whom are still establishing themselves in the legal profession and may not have the financial means to afford such an expense. We believe that access to professional development opportunities, such as conferences, should not be restricted by financial barriers.”

Titled “Reduce NBA Conference Fees for Young Lawyers,” the petitioners noted that “As young professionals who are just starting our legal careers, many of us are already grappling with financial challenges, including student loan debt and limited earning potential.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that the Early Bird rate for young lawyers during the 2023 AGC was as low as N7,500 for lawyers who met the Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements. However, the Early Bird rate for this year’s conference has jumped to N50,000, showing almost 700 %. Badejo-Okusanya had argued that the increase was due to the current 30 % national inflation rate.

The Regular Rate was N20,000 while Late Registration attracted N40,000. The rates for this year stand at N75,000 for Regular Rate and N200,000 for Late Registration.

Below is the full text of the petition which has garnered 317 signatures at press time.

Dear Fellow Young Lawyers,

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the recent decision of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to impose a significant financial burden on young lawyers by requiring a fee of 50,000 Naira for its Annual Conference.

As young professionals who are just starting our legal careers, many of us are already grappling with financial challenges, including student loan debt and limited earning potential.

The decision to impose such a hefty fee for attending the NBA conference disproportionately affects young lawyers, many of whom are still establishing themselves in the legal profession and may not have the financial means to afford such an expense. We believe that access to professional development opportunities, such as conferences, should not be restricted by financial barriers.

Moreover, the NBA should recognize the invaluable contributions that young lawyers make to the legal profession and the legal community as a whole.

By investing in the professional growth and development of young lawyers, the NBA can ensure a vibrant and inclusive legal profession for generations to come.

Therefore, we respectfully request a review of the decision to impose a 50,000 Naira fee for young lawyers attending the NBA Annual Conference.

We urge the NBA to consider reducing or waiving the conference fees for young lawyers, or to implement a sliding scale fee structure based on income levels to ensure accessibility for all. We believe that by reducing the financial burden on young lawyers, the NBA will demonstrate its commitment to supporting the next generation of legal professionals and fostering a more equitable and inclusive legal community.

We call on all young lawyers in Nigeria to join us in endorsing this petition and advocating for #ReduceNBAconferencefeesforyounglawyers.

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