NBA unveils Digital Stamp and Seal

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has been facing difficulties with a prolonged delay in the production and dispatch of stamps, leading to growing discontent among its members.In a note of unreserved apology, NBA General Secretary Adesina Adegbite acknowledged the “serious challenge of stamps production” that has plagued the organization since the early period of their administration.

Adegbite revealed that the delay was largely due to the stamp producer’s constraints in procuring materials, attributed to foreign exchange rates and inflation.

“While I must admit that the stamp producer had requested for an upward review of the cost of stamps prior to now, but we had persuaded him to retain the current cost with a view of protecting the interest of our members,” he explained. However, this insistence on maintaining the cost led to “unavoidable consequences.”

The General Secretary assured members that the stamp producer had confirmed delivery of materials and would clear the backlog of pending stamp applications within the next few days. He also announced the completion of a digital stamp (e-stamp) system, set to be unveiled on Monday, 19 August 2024, to address the inconveniences caused by the physical stamp regime.

However, just a day after the apology, on 19 June 2024, the NBA leadership announced the implementation of a Secured Digital Stamp and Seal with Verification System, powered by blockchain technology. The new system is integrated into Microsoft Word (2017 Edition and above) and comes with an e-commerce portal for convenient stamp purchases and a verification app for the public.

The NBA described the Digital Stamp and Seal as a “groundbreaking innovation” that ensures each stamp is “unique, tamper-proof, and verifiable.” The system aims to streamline the process of affixing stamps, provide a user-friendly platform for members and the public, protect lawyers’ jobs, and bolster public confidence in the authenticity of legal documents.

-Lawyers question leadership-
The conflicting statements from the NBA leadership have left many lawyers dissatisfied and questioning the organization’s handling of the stamp issue. Some members expressed their displeasure, asking,

“Why was it not reviewed?

This is simply uncalled for.”

They criticized the sudden shift to a digital system without adequate consultation and review of the existing physical stamp problems, feeling that the leadership had not properly addressed their

concerns and had made decisions without considering the impact on members.

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