Incumbent Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kunle Edun, has shared his Manifesto as he aspires to be the next National Welfare Secretary.
Read below the impressive plans made available to Legal Nigeria:
YOUNG LAWYERS’ MENTORING PROGRAM:
To work with the NBA President to create a mentoring scheme for the Young Lawyers which will entail seconding young Lawyers to established law firms on a month’s pupilage (minimum).LAWYERS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS/ALDIN:
To work with the NBA President to ensure that Lawyers with disabilities are given special privileges and discounts in all NBA-organized activities, campaign for ramps to be constructed in courts to enable easy accessibility.ELDERS’ WELFARE PROGRAM:
To work with the NBA President to initiate and sustain a welfare programme for elders at the Bar(above 70 years) that have health and welfare challenges and to be accorded preferential attention/treatment in all NBA organized activities.CREATION OF A SPECIAL FUND FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCIES:
I will advocate for the setting up of a Special Fund with a seed capital of at least N100M to cater for members in need of immediate medical treatment or having any other special needs that are beyond the capacity of the Branches .Health and Pension Insurance:
I’ll work with the NBA President to evolve a more comprehensive insurance scheme for Lawyers that will include health and pension insurance packages.WELFARE CHAT ROOM:
I’ll work with the NBA President to set up Welfare Chat groups using different social media tools to receive information, update and quickly address health/welfare/human right challenges of members.IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS FOR YOUNG LAWYERS:
I will advocate for better conditions of service for young Lawyers and facilitate discussions on a national minimum salary scale for young Lawyers in private practice (1-7).STATUTORY/INCREASED REPRESENTATION FOR YOUNG LAWYERS AT NEC :
I wiil advocate for young Lawyers(YLF) to have increased representation at the National Executive Committee and some other strategic Committees of the NBA.REPRESENTATION OF ALDIN, LOAN AND POLICE LAWYERS FORUMS AT NEC .
To enable more inclusion and entrench a robust partnership with all groups and within the NBA, there would be a push for members of Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria, Law Officers Association of Nigeria and Police Lawyers Association to have some representation at the NBA-NEC. Will also support the registration of LOAN as an entity.GENDER REPRESENTATION :
I will advocate for fair gender balance/representation in the appointment of members of NEC and other Committees/Sections/Fora of the NBA.ELIMINATION OF QUACKERY:
I plan to work with the NBA President to create more job opportunities for young Lawyers by facilitating an enabling environment for opening of other areas of practice and also eliminate roadside affidavit clerks in all Courts’ premises that aids quackery and prevent incursions into the legal profession by other professionals/groups.BILL /ACTION TO MAKE PAYMENT OF 10% COMPULSORY:
I will work with the NBA President and NEC to set up a Special Committee that will come up with proactive solutions that will make mandatory the payment of 10% minimum fee in the preparation of land documentations and criminalize non compliance thereof. This is a huge area that will make Lawyers to be richer, particularly young Lawyers . The Delta State model which needed only the Assent of the Governor would be one of the options. The Surveyors’ model would also be looked into.ADVOCATE FOR THE ELIMINATION OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LAWYERS IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE :
Lawyers in the public service are members of the NBA and should be allowed the full benefits and privileges like every other member of the NBA, particularly the right to contest for offices in NBA elections and protection of their jobs.HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS VICTIMS:
I will set up a Lawyers Victims’ Chat Room for Lawyers who are victims of rights abuses by security personnel. This will enable proper co-ordination by the NBA (working with Branch Welfare Secretaries) in assisting such Lawyers to seek for remedies/compensations.REDUCE FRICTION BETWEEN LAWYERS AND SECURITY AGENCIES: I will work with the NBA President and the NBA Human Right Institute to partner with the various security and law enforcement agencies for a more beneficial relationship that will see to a drastic reduction in the incidences of harassment/arrest of Lawyers. The Police Duty Solicitors’ Scheme and the Branches’ Human Rights’ Committee will be made more relevant in this effort.
NBA ESTATES:
I will work with the NBA President to encourage the formation of Co-operatives by NBA Branches which will comprise of Savings Schemes in business partnership with lending institutions that will facilitate the construction of NBA Estates in Abuja and such other branches (optional) at discounted market rates.NBA MICRO-FINANCE BANK : To continue the on-going efforts at setting up of NBA Micro-Finance Bank to enable members access soft loans.
KUNLE EDUN ESQ .
National Welfare Secretary (Candidate)
