Well Done Nigeria, As We Reverse the “Error” on the Reciprocity of Legal Practice with the UK

Let me thank the federal government of Nigeria for making immediate decisions to reverse the decision to allow reciprocity for UK lawyers to practice in Nigeria even as Nigerian lawyers practice in England. The update now is that the government has admitted that it was an “error” on its part  to include that component as part of the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP). So, the erroneous component has been abolished.

I also call the government to ask the UK government to modify its website as that component still remains: “It will see the UK and Nigeria’s shared aspiration to facilitate each other’s lawyers practising foreign and international law in each other’s jurisdictions – a step which could significantly enhance legal services collaboration and exports.” 

Why did we protest against this component in the agreement?

1. If you allow this reciprocity, Nigerian law firms and lawyers will lose most of the foreign companies operating in Nigeria. Those firms will likely retain UK law firms and lawyers over the indigenous ones. Yes, from Shell to Unilever, they will add Nigeria jurisdictions in their already existing legal service contracts in the UK. Simply, our local legal practice will lose clients, and that will affect many jobs. I model that we will have a 1:100 balance of legal services, for every $1 Nigerian lawyers earn in the UK, the UK lawyers will earn $100 in Nigeria.
2. If that stands, Nigeria will be going against its own tradition of protecting weaker institutions. The local content regulations in the oil and gas sector are there, not because Nigerian engineers cannot go to Texas and Scotland to build oil wells and rigs, but because there is a need to protect our professionals and their companies, even as they continue to improve. 
3. If this stands, there is really no core benefit. Hiring English lawyers will not replace Nigerian courts, the judges and the registrars. Except for having expatriates in the courts, I do not see how they will improve the speed for justice or fairness of justice since the judges and justices will continue to run their shows. (I assume that we have no plans to send UK judges to Nigeria and Nigerian judges to the UK soon).

I am not a lawyer. But understand that the same reason I wrote against floating the Naira is the same reason I wrote against allowing this legal reciprocity. Across many dimensions, Nigeria is a weaker component of this legal deal and allowing reciprocity would have destroyed the law practice. So, I am happy it is stopped

Many here attacked my position against the government, I welcome that. But note this: I am happy the government has seen it from our perspective. I thank them for responding immediately because that is the right thing to do.

We like the UK; if you want to practice law in the UK, go to their law school. And if you want to practice law in Nigeria, come to our law school. That is the way it is done today; no discrimination in any way.

Let me thank the federal government of Nigeria for making immediate decisions to reverse the decision to allow reciprocity for UK lawyers to practice in Nigeria even as Nigerian lawyers practice in England. The update now is that the government has admitted that it was an “error”… pic.twitter.com/T7emTfwabt

— Ndubuisi Ekekwe (@ndekekwe) February 18, 2024

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