Says 10 new staff recruited to boost workforce
At the just-concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the out-going General Secretary, Adesina Adegbite, addressed several key issues facing the organization.
In his speech to the assembled lawyers, Adegbite called for a review of the powers granted to the NBA President under the current
bar constitution, suggesting that they may be excessive and in need of revision.
He told the audience that the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, whom he claimed not to have had any formal conversation with, donated N20 million to support the 2024 NBA AGC. This announcement was met with a standing ovation, and the president thanked Prince Adebayo for his support.
Adegbite also disclosed that during his tenure, the NBA Secretariat employed 10 staff members to assist in running the headquarters. However, he did not clarify whether these positions were publicly advertised for applications or if they filled the various positions with their own people. He also mentioned that he was elected to the position of Secretary General of the West African Bar Association (WABA).
Addressing concerns raised by some members, the General Secretary apologized to those who applied for the NBA Stamp and Seal but did not receive it under the current leadership. He assured the gathering that a new automated system would be implemented to streamline the process and prevent such issues in the future.
Furthermore, Adegbite extended apologies to members who had sought various favors from him but did not have their requests granted.
The AGM also saw the passing of a motion, supported by prominent lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to relocate the National Secretariat of the NBA from its previous location in Lagos to a permanent site at Plot 1101 Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business Area, Abuja, because that affected the filing of
annual returns because CAC rejected it due to the address they were using.
The General Secretary also announced that the NBA is set to launch a new sticker system, which will include each lawyer’s Supreme Court enrolment number and car details, as a measure to combat the growing problem of impersonation within the legal profession.
Additionally, Adegbite revealed that plans
are in motion to establish an NBA Library within the NBA Secretariat premises.
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