Have You Taken the Necessary Steps to Uphold the Integrity of the Legal Profession in 2026?
The NBA Finance Committee has reiterated that the timely payment of practicing fees remains a foundational pillar of professional integrity and institutional strength within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). As the 2026 legal year progresses, we call on all members of the Bar to stand up, be counted, and consciously sustain the Association that safeguards our collective interests.
From our perspective as custodians of the Association’s financial health, the payment of practicing fees is far more than routine compliance. It is a clear statement of belonging, responsibility, and shared purpose. Each lawyer who pays on time affirms their professional identity and demonstrates commitment to the ideals, discipline, and unity of the Bar.
We emphasize that a financially strong NBA is an independent NBA, one that can defend the rights and welfare of lawyers, protect judicial independence, and speak truth to power without fear or compromise. Only financially compliant members are entitled to access critical professional benefits, including the NBA Stamp and Seal, participation in Law Week activities, voting and contesting in NBA elections, and full engagement in NBA programmes and initiatives.
Practicing fees paid by members are actively deployed to sustain the Association’s core functions. These include advocacy for the rights, welfare, and security of lawyers; continuous legal education and professional development; the maintenance of functional branch secretariats, libraries, and ICT infrastructure; mentorship and empowerment schemes for young lawyers; public interest litigation and pro bono interventions; professional publications and research materials; Law Week celebrations, Annual General Conferences, and networking platforms; as well as the defence of the rule of law and judicial independence in Nigeria.
We also draw attention to the serious consequences of non-compliance. Failure to pay practicing fees results in the loss of access to the NBA Stamp and Seal, forfeiture of voting and elective rights, exclusion from conferences, trainings, and NBA programmes, and ultimately contributes to a weakened Bar with diminished collective influence.
Accordingly, we call on all members of the Nigerian Bar Association to pay their 2026 Practicing Fees on or before 31 March 2026, using the NBA’s approved digital payment platforms. We further urge members to mobilise colleagues across branches and practice groups to ensure prompt and widespread compliance.
The Bar is only as strong as the members who sustain it. By paying practicing fees on time, each lawyer protects their practice, strengthens our collective voice, and affirms the integrity and future of the legal profession in Nigeria.
All BPF payments must be made online through your verified NBA membership portal via the link below:
https://portal.nigerianbar.org.ng/login
Signed:
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, SAN
Chairman, Finance Committee
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
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