DR BABATUNDE AJIBADE, SAN, FCIArb
I have noted the complaints, protests and agitation by some of our colleagues with regard to the prevailing situation at the Corporate Affairs Commission, arising from measures the Commission has taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. I understand many Counsel have been made to spend endless hours in front of the Commission in an attempt to conduct business.I recognize that work at
the Commission constitutes a significant part of the legal services rendered by
many of our colleagues and I appreciate the plight of the lawyers who have had
to spend several man-hours in order to attend to seemingly routine tasks.
However, I also
understand the risk of exposure to COVID-19 associated with large gatherings of
people at this time. I understand that the Commission is obliged to take steps
it considers necessary to comply with the social distancing regulations issued
by the NCDC.
With this set of
conflicting needs and obligations, we must find a way of managing the
situation. This is one of the reasons why I have consistently advocated for
greater unity and collaboration among the different segments of our profession.
The Registrar-General of the Commission and most of the senior management are
our colleagues and we need to engage and work more actively with them in
finding mutually satisfactory solutions to the issues that have been thrown up
by this pandemic. We must explore the increased use of technology to address
some of these issues even as we settle into our new normal.
I have spoken with the
Registrar-General and he has assured me that the Commission takes these issues
seriously and is doing its best to ease the pains of our colleagues, within the
limits of present constraints. I urge that we exercise some patience as we
continue with this engagement.
Let's do better.
Dr. Babatunde Ajibade,
SAN, FCIArb
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