Globalisation;Why Not Open The Doors?

GLOBALISATION; WHY NOT OPEN THE DOORS?

   By Chidi Nwachukwu

 

 A lot has been said about globalisation since the beginning of the 21st century.Put succintly;it denotes that the entire world could be viewed at a glance,and there is no hiding place for both communities and individuals.A successful global arragement will facilitate an intermingling of goods and services,and it is on this premise that the World Trade Organisation recently enlisted legal practice as part of the services that should be liberalized accross borders.

 

Much as this is a healthy development,opinion varies among lawyers in Nigeria.Not a few are of the stand that throwing our doors open now  may amount to coercive liberalisation ,which we cannot afford hence we can hardly compete on equal footing .Unfortunately,globalisation is more of a trend than a matter of choice,this is given the present context of global trade openess and intense networking of world economies.The point must be made pungently;we cannot be talking about attracting foreign investments,when the investors are not sure that our lawyers are capable of handling legion of legal technicalities that will definitely arise.

 

Except we are trying to insulate our economy  and our people aganist manipulation of external factors such as inflation of legal fees,we cannot afford to stand on the sideline.And even if that becomes the case,the regulating body of the NBA is there to check it especially in a profession where honour and integrity preceedes money making.

 

Again being the most populous black Nation in the world and one of the largest exporter of oil,the situation has become a bit like someone who has gone to watch a hurling match;brings his blanket and all of a sudden he realises he is sitting in the middle of the pitch,you either get up and play or you get clobbered.There has been  complains about government patronage of foreign lawyers as agaisnt their Nigerian couterparts in its transactoins,but the present jittery about opening our doors may readily indicate that the former is better,and that government was right afterall in its choice.

 

However, i think the fears are unfounded because it is a matter of regulation.The impression given so far is a situation where you see an army of  foreign lawyers matching towards Nigeria.The onus is on the Government and the Nigeria Bar Association to work out modalities on this arrangement.We musn't forget that foreign lawyers can also serve as training opportunities for our teemimg population of  lawyers and even with a better pay package.I believe it was for purpose of upgrading the knowledge and skills of  our lawyers that led to the brilliant conception of Section on Bussiness Law SBL. 

 

Ultimately,the success of any lawyer largely depends on his ability to read  and patience for adequate research,otherwise we may continue to shy away from joinig global players.

 

Nwachukwu wrote in from George Etomi and Partners, Lagos.