Y. C. Maikyau-Led NBA Presidency (2022-2024): A Model Of Collaborative, Pragmatic And Results Oriented Leadership By Sylvester Udemezue

The tenure of Y. C. Maikyau SAN as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from 2022 to August 2024 stands as a paradigm of effective, constructive, constructive, pragmatic and results-oriented leadership. Unlike many predecessors who relied on confrontation, litigation, and antagonism with government institutions, Maikyau adopted a leadership style rooted in non-confrontation, collaboration, public engagement, and pragmatic communication. This approach enhanced the NBA’s credibility, delivered transformative results across the profession, judiciary, and broader justice sector, and redefined Bar leadership in Nigeria.

1. Institutionalising Excellence through Committee Performance: Under Maikyau’s presidency, NBA committees achieved unprecedented performance, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative leadership. Key committees and their contributions included:

(a). NBA-SARC: Led by Chuka Ikwuazom SAN, this committee actively implemented programs benefiting legal professionals nationwide.

(b). NBA Remuneration Committee: Under Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, it spearheaded efforts to overhaul lawyer remuneration and welfare, replacing outdated structures.

(c). NBA ICLE (Institute of Continuing Legal Education): Led by Tobenna Erojikwe, ICLE advanced professional development programs enhancing the competence of lawyers across Nigeria.

(d). NBA Welfare Committee: Under Emeka Ozoani, SAN, the committee improved conditions of service and welfare for legal practitioners, ensuring professional wellbeing.

2. Legal and Regulatory Reforms: The Maikyau-led NBA leveraged collaboration and engagement with government and regulatory authorities to achieve landmark reforms:

(a). Repeal of RPC 2007 and Enactment of RPC 2023: Through constructive engagement with the General Council of the Bar (GCB) and the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami SAN, the NBA replaced RPC 2007 with RPC 2023, embedding anti-corruption policies and aligning legal practice with modern professional demands.

(b). Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order (LPRO 2023): In partnership with the LPRC and the AGF, the NBA updated the remuneration framework for lawyers, replacing the outdated 1991 Order.

(c). Judicial Salary Review: The NBA submitted a detailed 141-page memorandum to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), advocating an increase in judicial officers’ salaries and allowances. These NBA engagements with relevant stakeholders, not lawsuits, culminated in a 300% increase in judicial salaries, strengthening judicial independence and welfare.

3. Engagement with the Presidency and Government Institutions: Between 2022 and 2024, the NBA leadership strategically engaged key national stakeholders:

(a). The NBA leadership met President Bola Ahmed Tinubu twice to advocate for the welfare of judicial officers. The meetings reflected pragmatic engagement, and the President listened attentively to the issues raised.

(b). Through collaboration with the AGF, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the Senate President, and the leadership of the National Assembly, the NBA successfully facilitated the 300% salary increase for judicial officers.

(c). The NBA leadership worked closely with the AGF, as Chairman of the LPRC, to secure the enactment of the LPRO 2023: the first comprehensive review since 1991.

(d). In partnership with the AGF (as Chairman of the GCB), the NBA midwifed the enactment of the 2023 Rules of Professional Conduct, embedding anti-corruption policies into professional practice.

4. Upholding NBA Integrity and Unity: During Maikyau’s leadership, attempts by splinter groups to operate NBA-SPIDEL independently were successfully neutralized. This preserved the constitutional integrity and unity of the NBA, preventing internal divisions that could have weakened the Association.

5. Constructive, Pragmatic Public Engagement: Maikyau’s leadership prioritized dialogue, negotiation, and collaboration over litigation whenever possible, achieving measurable outcomes:

(a). National Summit on Justice Sector Reforms: Collaborative engagement with the AGF and stakeholders facilitated a summit that drove substantial justice sector reforms.

(b). Judiciary Budget Increase: Through strategic policy submissions and advocacy, the judiciary’s budget rose from ₦144 billion in 2023 to approximately ₦340 billion in 2024, reflecting a milestone in judicial empowerment.

(c). Protection of Legal Practice Space: The NBA successfully opposed attempts to permit unrestricted practice by foreign lawyers in Nigeria, preserving the integrity and exclusivity of legal practice.

(d). Case Study: Pius Awoke, Esq: When contacted by The Law Centre (TLC) regarding the unlawful detention of Pius Awoke, Maikyau personally intervened. By June 22, 2024, Awoke regained his freedom, demonstrating that pragmatic engagement and dialogue can yield rapid, tangible results where litigation alone had failed. Previous lawsuits and “public-interest advocacy” efforts had been ineffective.

6. Promotion of Constructive Engagement, Education, and Collaboration: The era underscored the enduring value of dialogue, education, and collaborative approaches in public-interest advocacy, as opposed to needless hostility, brinkmanship, or unreasoned litigation.

7. Documentation and Preservation of NBA History: A book chronicling the history of the NBA was published, enhancing institutional memory and scholarship, ensuring that lessons learned and successes achieved are preserved for future generations.

8. Refocusing on Profession-Centered Programmes: The NBA redirected attention to initiatives directly affecting the Bench and the Bar, ensuring that resources and programs were aligned with tangible professional outcomes.

9. Restoration of Cordial Institutional Relations: Relations with critical institutions (including the CJN, AGF, PCA, NJC, CAC, BOSAN, the Body of Benchers, and the Presidency) were restored after years of hostility under the 2020–2022 leadership. Previous confrontational approaches had yielded minimal tangible progress, leaving “implementable blueprints” that required pragmatic leadership for execution; pragmatic and constructive leadership that the Y.C. Maikyau years offered.

10. Safeguarding Judicial Integrity: The NBA under Maikyau took firm but lawful actions to protect the judiciary from disparaging public statements, including legal action against Dame Pauline Tallen over derogatory comments regarding a Federal High Court judgment.

11. Federal Character and National Integration: Maikyau’s leadership respected federal character principles, ensuring equitable representation within NBA structures and promoting national integration.

12. Philosophy of Leadership: Engagement Over Confrontation: The hallmark of Maikyau’s tenure was a belief in dialogue, education, public enlightenment, and collaboration as the primary tools of leadership. Litigation and confrontation were reserved for matters of absolute necessity. This strategic approach maximized resource efficiency and ensured measurable outcomes, setting a benchmark for subsequent NBA leadership.

13. Conclusion: Legacy of Transformational Leadership: While no leadership is perfect, the 2022–2024 NBA presidency left verifiable achievements through dialogue, constructive engagement, symbiotic collaboration, public education, and innovation. Y. C. Maikyau SAN’s tenure redefined NBA governance: engagement over hostility; dialogue over confrontation; collaboration over isolation; education and enlightenment over rhetoric. His leadership delivered tangible outcomes in judicial salaries, professional regulations, ethical reforms, institutional integrity, and public-interest advocacy. As Nelson Mandela said, “The best weapon is to sit down and talk…”. Y. C. Maikyau SAN demonstrated that pragmatic dialogue and results-oriented collaboration constitute the most effective form of leadership, leaving a legacy that future NBA administrations would do well to emulate.

Long live NBA!

Respectfully,
Sylvester Udemezue (udems),
Member, NBA Lagos Branch
08109024556.
lawmentorng@gmail.com
(27 September 2025)