Law graduates from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) descended on the office of the attorney-general of the federation in Abuja, demanding action on a backlog that has locked over 4,000 qualified graduates out of the Nigerian Law School since 2020. The demonstrators, organised under the banner 'Backlog of NOUN Law Graduates', want urgent federal intervention to end what they describe as systemic exclusion of otherwise qualified lawyers.
This latest action marks an escalation in the group's campaign, following an earlier protest at the National Assembly. The push signals growing frustration among graduates who've been waiting years for admission into the mandatory professional law programme.
Adefowora Adedeji, national president of the group, revealed that the National Universities Commission had already accredited NOUN's law programme. Earlier cohorts of graduates secured admission into Nigerian Law School through a special arrangement, he explained, but this pathway has not been extended to recent graduates.
The exclusion has created severe hardship, Adedeji told reporters. Affected graduates face financial strain, emotional trauma, and stalled professional careers despite meeting all academic requirements.
He argued that keeping these graduates out breaches constitutional rights to human dignity, fair hearing, and freedom from discrimination. A 2018 amendment to the National Open University Act had already settled earlier legal questions about the institution's law programme, he noted.
"There is no longer any legal justification for keeping qualified graduates out of law school," Adedeji said. The group has directed appeals to the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School management, the Federal Ministry of Education, attorney-general Lateef Fagbemi, and president Bola Tinubu.
The protesters are calling for all backlog graduates to be enrolled for the 2026/2027 Law School session. "We want the relevant authorities to ensure that the 2026/2027 academic session does not leave us and the remaining backlog of qualified NOUN law graduates behind," Adedeji said.
The timing of the protest is particularly pointed, coming as newly qualified lawyers are being called to the Nigerian Bar in Abuja during the ongoing 2026 Call to Bar ceremonies. The protesting graduates remain shut out of this milestone.
Adedeji disclosed that the association has filed close to 50 petitions with the National Assembly, Federal Ministry of Education, the NUC, the Nigerian Bar Association, the body of benchers, and other relevant institutions. None have yielded resolution.
The crisis has taken a human toll beyond finances. He noted that some affected graduates have developed serious health complications linked to the prolonged uncertainty.
The association's treasurer died after developing hypertension he directly attributed to the unresolved crisis, Adedeji disclosed. "We have exhausted dialogue and administrative processes.
What we want now is a definite timeline for resolving this issue," he said.
The group has warned it will escalate protests across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory if authorities fail to act. The threat underscores the determination of graduates who've waited too long for professional recognition.
