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NBA MUST SET UP A TRUST FUND FOR HER MEMBERS – SABASTIINE ANYIA

Let me quickly place on record my appreciation to all branches of the NBA that provided assistance and/ or palliatives to vulnerable members and to all the good spirited and distinguished colleagues who also assisted lawyers with cash and food items at this trying period. I was greatly moved by some branches that even took up the added responsibility of delivering the items to the lawyers in their homes. I pray that the almighty God replenish and reward you all abundantly.

The impact of this unforeseen event on lawyers and the legal practice had made it even more imperative to establish and prioritize a robust and comprehensive welfare scheme for Nigerian lawyers especially the vulnerable among us.

It is axiomatic that the first and preeminent instinct of man is self preservation. The reason we came together as an association is basically to accentuate this instinct. It is therefore expected of our association to uphold this ideal by making provisions for this essential need of her members.

We know as a fact that the current pandemic has adversely impacted every segment of society. In our case the young lawyers who even before the crisis have been grappling with daunting challenges are severely affected. This inevitably has called for greater responsibility and intervention from our senior rich colleagues. At this critical time we must all do more.
I am of the firm believe that the Association can take a lead in all of this by initiating the following

*1.* I will like the association to organise a trust fund for her members for emergency situations like this. The Nigerian Bar Association should as a matter of urgency organise a trust fund and urge our rich colleagues to donate money for its sustainability to help the young and less privileged lawyers among us. There is no gainsaying that we are not all equals. There are some who are more blessed than others, it is the prerogative of the almighty God that none of us can question. It is therefore incumbent on our senior and privilege colleagues to help. I am confident they would respond to all genuine course in this respect As shown over the years that they are charitable to members of the association. We have also seen recently how they contributed without prompting to assist some NBA Branches like Lagos, Kaduna, Benin, Ungogo, Onitsha, Awka etc. So making it a duty for them to contribute for NBA TRUST FUND would not be a big task. When it is achieved we’ll ensure that it is shared evenly and gets to the welfare secretaries of all the branches who will in turn distribute it evenly to their members. It is obvious that this pandemic has caused loss of business leading to a reduction in income of our colleagues and the effect on lawyers is enormous. What our privileged colleagues have done as palliative was the provision of financial and material assistance to their branches to assist our members. But with the introduction of NBA TRUST FUND, money shall be paid to the scheme to help members of the association in times of need. To achieve this our distinguished trustees would invest and grow the funds and shall be accountable to the NEC of the Association

*2.* The second issue I will like NBA to provide is opening access to soft loans for practitioners in close working relationship with partner banks. Any member of our association who has paid his bar practising fees (BPF) and branch dues for 5 consecutive years and has attended NBA conferences for 5 years consecutively too should be given access to loan from banks that have partnership with NBA. Members should have reasons to be proud to belong to an association. They should also have something to motivate them to pay their BPF without prompting. This will put an end to the questions lawyers always ask, “what is NBA doing for us?”

*3.* The third issue I will advise the NBA is on the introduction of Medical Insurance Scheme. The NBA must provide health care assistance either to prevent or treat affected lawyers. This will be for all lawyers and will be an enduring legacy. This scheme will cover all members who pay their practising fee before the 31st March of every year. The NBA shall subsidize the premium for any enrollee. This will be deducted from the Association’s share of practice fees

*4.* Modalities should be put on ground for young lawyers to earn money and stop over dependence on senior colleagues. NBA should set up a committee to fix a minimum price a legal practitioner should charge for preparing a deed. This will reduce the poverty rate of lawyers considerably. I am aware that surveyors association of Nigeria has a minimum price for preparing a survey plan. Anywhere you go for a survey plan, nobody will take less than that minimum price. This has helped their members considerably. In NBA, there are no guiding rules and as such while a surveyor will be paid nothing less than fifty thousand naira (50,000) to prepare a survey plan, some lawyers collect as poor as ten thousand naira (10,000) to prepare a deed and when they have problems associated with health or otherwise, they will be looking for assistance. We must protect our association and make her members proud of their membership. We can reduce this over dependence on senior and rich lawyers if we provide the enabling environment to make money like their colleagues in other professions. Their remuneration should also improve considerably to enable them save for the rainy day.

*5.* On the issue of senior lawyers in the branches to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the less privileged members, I submit that seniority does not come with money. Rather, I will suggest that our richer colleagues should reach out to our less privileged colleagues in our various branches and ameliorate the hunger and suffering of our colleagues at this trying times. Assisting in times of need is an age long thing that cannot be overemphasized. There is blessing in assisting the needy. They should always bear in mind that their good works will always be remembered. I am aware that these days people find faults in everything one does. I urge you not to be afraid to carry out acts of kindness because of what people might say about you.

This is the only way we can save ourselves from any future pandemic.

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