REMITTANCE OF BPF TO BRANCHES DOES NOT REQUIRE CONSULTATION: MAIKYAU

Under the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association, the remittance of 10% of the Bar practising Fee, paid yearly to branches, is mandatory and does not require the authorisation of any National Officer before it is paid.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, stated this in response to the allegation made by the National Treasurer of the Association at the 2023 AGM that her office was not consulted before the 2023 Bar Practicing Fees were disbursed.

“We took the decision, and I paid the branches. Now, at the last National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting, the issue came up, and she said that I stated that I did not need the treasurer to carry out any financial activity of the branch. I never said so. What did I say? I said Show me in the Constitution where I would need your permission to pay 10 per cent remittance to branches“.

The Constitution is here. I don’t need the permission of the treasurer to remit 10 per cent. It’s the Constitutional duty. I have performed it and said, ” Please, if anything I’ve done under the Constitution is wrong, let me see.

She didn’t say anything, but I knew with the help of the Holy Spirit that she would come and make a complaint today about this particular issue. And concerning the point of payment, the cost problem is evident in the Constitution.

According to the President, “The treasurer is responsible for mobilizing people to pay under the Constitution. She read her duties under the Constitution. Did she appreciate that the branches should have their 10 per cent? Not one day did the treasurer say, Mr. President, how about the 10 per cent?

It says that I, the secretary and all the treasurers can make payment. If provisions are there, we are lawyers. I had never made any payment without him. And when he was away, she came, and she was the only person recommending charges to me, and I paid.

So, I cannot understand how our colleagues will come here and speak in the manner that they did just to put me at odds. Distinguished colleagues, I have a commitment to all of you. I will not allow anybody here to make me breach that oath.

DOES THE PRESIDENT REQUIRE THE PERMISSION OF THE TREASURER TO PAY REMITTANCE TO BRANCHES?

It’s all about money. And I will say when we went campaigning with them and told them that this is selfless service, I didn’t know that you were targeting the bar practising fee. Yes, bar practising fee. Also Read: https://legalattorneyblog.com/2023/09/22/the-nba-president-clears-the-air-on-the-treasurers-refusal-to-sign-the-financial-reports-at-the-agm-2023/

That’s what you are targeting. Why will you tell me to come and spend money like that? From October last year, we assumed office, as strict as I have been. I told the accountant to collect the extent of the expenses on national officers. I was given a total cost. I can give you the exact figure of over 50 million Naira for federal officers’ expenses.

Don’t forget that I am omitted. I am not. I pay my way to travel. So when you see me charter an aircraft, it’s not the Nigerian Bar Association’s money. I may have spoken to Baba and Ajiba today to help me pay part of it. I would have talked to Solomon Umor, but not your money.

But I will perform that function because it’s a call to duty, and I don’t have to rely on your money. The amount of money I got is from October 2022 to 12th of August 2023.

So, it doesn’t even include the expenses to date. The total amount stood at 50 million, 719,409 Naira, 95 Kobo. This will give 3,000 of our colleagues a more national health insurance scheme at 15 million Naira for 1,000 of our colleagues. As if I knew. Also Read: https://legalattorneyblog.com/2023/09/16/nba-president-clears-the-air-on-running-the-affairs-of-the-association/

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