The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA is the umbrella body of all lawyers admitted to practice law in Nigeria. A lawyer’s admission into the NBA is automatic having satisfied the members of the Body of Benchers with the requirements of good character and proficiency in the Bar Final Examination.

The NBA is made up of 88 branches, spread across the 36 states of Nigeria. It consist of 14 National Officers who are appointed every 2 years and 1 National Secretariat. With a membership base of about 55,000, it is reputed to be the largest professional association in Africa. In Nigeria, the NBA remains the top professional association. It has members in every sphere of endeavour in the country and this gives it a credible platform to be a change agent, an ideal it has been committed to since inception. The affairs of the association is managed by the National Executive Committee(NEC) which is made up of National Officers and representatives of all branches

The NBA was officially recognized by law in 1933. It has continued to act as the conscience of the nation especially as it relates to the promotion of democracy, respect for Rule of law and social/economic empowerment. It was in the vanguard for the fight for Democracy and presently is committed to Democracy consolidation and the entrenchment of the Rule of law. It uses its enormous human resources to constantly appraise and engage government policies and programmes. It has a highly respected voice in the country. The NBA holds annual general conferences and it publishes various journals and newsletters reporting the work of its sections and committees.

The NBA is Juristic personality and Juridical entity. It  is a creation of statutes; the Legal Practitioners Act(amendment in progress), and is recognized by numerous legislations. It is also registered as incorporated trustees with eminent lawyers as trustees. It has domestic, representational and quasi-regulatory functions relating only to the legal profession.

CONCEPTUAL DEFINITION

To be in the vanguard for the promotion and defence of the rule of law, good governance, social justice and the dignity of all persons.

VISION
To rank among the foremost Bar Associations in the world.

MISSION
To use the law as an instrument for social change.

MOTTO
Promoting the Rules of law.

CORE VALUES

• Integrity
• Excellence
• Courage
• professionalism

 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

• Maintenance and defence of the integrity and independence of the Bar and the Judiciary in Nigeria.
• Promotion and advancement of Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education, Advocacy and Jurisprudence.
• Improvement of the system of administration of justice, its procedure and the arrangement of court business and regular law reporting.
• Establishment, maintenance and efficient operation of a system of prompt and efficient legal aid and assistance for those in need but who are unable to pay for same.
• Promotion and support of law reform.
• Maintenance of the highest standards of professional conduct, etiquette and discipline.
• Promotion of good relations among the members of the Association and between them and lawyers of other countries.
• Promotion of co-operation between the Association and other National or International Law Organizations and such other bodies as may be approved by the National Executive Committee.
• Encouragement and protection of the right of access to courts at reasonably affordable fees and of representation by counsel before courts and tribunals.
• Encouragement of the establishment of a National Law Library.
• Promotion and protection of the principles of the rule of law and respect for enforcement of fundamental rights, human rights and people’s rights.
• Creation of schemes for the encouragement of newly qualified members and assistance to aged or incapacitated members of the Association.
• Establishment of schemes for the promotion of the welfare, security and economic advancement of members of the legal profession.
• Creation and maintenance of an Endowment Fund for the proper observance and discharge of any of these aims and objects.

OUR PROGRAMMES
The NBA is involved in the following thematic program areas which include:
-Electoral Reform
-Justice Sector Reform
-Anti Corruption
-Constitutional Democracy and good governance
-Promotion of African Regional Human Rights Mechanism
-Economic Reform.
-Professional Standards and Ethics

• Electoral Reform:

With the advent of elections and the aftermath electoral mal practices prevalent in our systems, reasons for these range from ineffective electoral law to the absence of political will by gatekeepers to rise up to the challenges of a credible process. As such the Nigerian government is faced with credible crisis, our democracy elicits only apathy from the general public and our quest for national growth is threatened by this dominant national pulse. The present administration has announced its willingness to embark on electoral reform and the NBA is disposed to engaging this process. The expected result of this engagement is the reform of the Nigerian Electoral System.

• Justice Sector Reform:

The last administration in Nigeria had made some modest effort in kick-starting reforms in the Justice sector. Most of their initiatives are still in the budding stage. The main challenge of pushing the justice sector above the cluster of national issues and giving it the attention it deserves is even more evident especially at this stage when the young federal government is still designing its policies. There is the challenge of building on the initiatives of the last administration and also adding more steam to our Justice Sector Advocacy Initiative; this is where the NBA comes in.

• Anti-Corruption:

This project is geared towards promoting the use of overlapping agencies to combat corruption in West Africa and in Nigeria in particular. It will also engage state policies to enhance independence and efficiency of anti-corruption agencies.

• Constitutional Reform:

The importance of constitutional democracy can not be overemphasized. The deficiencies in the Nigerian Constitution continue to pose problems for the growth of democracy. The Nigerian bar is committed to two key areas of reform under this project. They include the Review of the 1999 Constitution and Promotion of the culture of constitutionalism. These will be reviewed by the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association comprising of about 300 lawyers.

• Promotion Of The Sub-Regional Mechanism For The Promotion Of Human Rights:

This project is three pronged:

{A}Review of the Fundamental Rights Procedure in Nigeria

{B}Training for lawyers in Nigeria on the Sub-Regional Mechanisms for the Promotion       of Human Rights.

{C} International Conferences on the African court and the Community Court of Justice.

• Economic Reform

Under this project, the NBA seeks to develop an alternative or amended economic blue print for Nigeria. The project will interrogate existing government economic policies and try to suggest amendments that will supply the missing link between government policies and poverty eradication in the land. It will also suggest ways law can be optimally used to kick- start realistic economic recovery in the country. The two main components of this project are Research and Advocacy.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The CLE is geared towards achieving professional development and enhancement of lawyers in Nigeria. It is designed to equip members through seminars and symposia with expertise and knowledge of new developments in the field of law. The legal demand in Nigeria and around the world is constantly evolving and the Nigerian Bar Association has designed the CLE to be an avenue for constant training for lawyers in Nigeria.

CIVIC EDUCATION CENTRE
As part of our human rights promotion initiative, and pro bono service agenda, the NBA proposes to establish in each of the 88 branches, a Civic Education Centre with the aim of providing free legal advices to indigent members of the community. The centre will also design civic education activities for the local community. Specific details of this initiative are still being worked out.