The National Executive Committee of the National Association of NOUN Law Graduates has expressed deep concern over the continued non-admission of qualified Law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria into the Nigerian Law School since 2020.
The association said the situation had persisted despite the accreditation of NOUN’s Law programme by the National Universities Commission and the earlier admission of previous sets of NOUN Law graduates into the Nigerian Law School.
In a statement issued by its National President, Comrade Adefowora Adedeji, and Secretary-General, Comrade Adewole Ayobami R., the association said the prolonged exclusion had subjected hundreds of qualified Nigerian graduates to uncertainty, hardship, emotional distress and economic loss.
According to the group, many affected graduates have been unable to complete their professional legal education despite meeting the prescribed academic requirements.
The association maintained that the continued exclusion of the backlog of NOUN Law graduates is inconsistent with the constitutional values reflected in Sections 34, 36 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, which protect the dignity of the human person, fair hearing and freedom from discrimination.
It stated that its position is anchored on the Constitution, the principles of administrative law, and the statutory framework governing the National Open University of Nigeria.
The group noted that the National Open University Act, 2018 amended the National Open University Act, 1983 and addressed the legislative lacuna that previously existed under the earlier law, thereby strengthening the legal status of the university and its academic programmes.
It further argued that since NOUN’s Law programme has been duly accredited by the National Universities Commission, and earlier sets of NOUN Law graduates had already been admitted into the Nigerian Law School, the continued exclusion of the remaining backlog raises serious questions of fairness, legitimate expectation, procedural fairness, equality of treatment, reasonableness and administrative consistency.
The statement read in part: “Section 1(1) of the Constitution declares the Constitution supreme and binding on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while Section 1(3) provides that where any law or action is inconsistent with the Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail.
“We therefore respectfully urge every authority responsible for legal education to ensure that its policies and decisions comply with the Constitution, the rule of law and the principles of fairness, equity and justice.”
The association called on the Council of Legal Education, the management of the Nigerian Law School, the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to urgently resolve the outstanding backlog and ensure that all eligible NOUN Law graduates are admitted without further delay.
It also appealed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, as well as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to urgently intervene and facilitate a lawful, fair and timely resolution of the matter.
The group said: “Our demand is simple, lawful and just. We seek no special privilege or preferential treatment. We only ask to be admitted into the Nigerian Law School on the same basis as our senior colleagues from the National Open University of Nigeria who have already been admitted.”
The association urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the 2026/2027 academic session of the Nigerian Law School does not leave behind the remaining backlog of qualified NOUN Law graduates.
It also announced that affected graduates would embark on a peaceful procession to Abuja from July 7 to July 9, 2026, describing the planned action as a lawful and constitutional exercise of their civic rights.
According to the association, the procession is intended solely to draw national attention to the longstanding issue and seek a peaceful resolution through constitutional means.
During the procession, the group said it intends to present petitions to relevant committees of the National Assembly responsible for tertiary education, public petitions, public hearings and legislative oversight.
The association said the petitions would invite the lawmakers to exercise their constitutional oversight functions over the issues affecting the backlog of qualified NOUN Law graduates.
It also disclosed that a petition would be submitted to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, seeking appropriate legal and administrative intervention toward a fair and lawful resolution of the matter.
The association appealed to the President, the National Assembly, the Judiciary, the Nigerian Bar Association, civil society organisations, the media and well-meaning Nigerians to support the just resolution of the matter in accordance with the Constitution, the rule of law and the principles of fairness and equal opportunity.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. The time has come to resolve the backlog, restore confidence in legal education, uphold the supremacy of the Constitution, and ensure that every qualified NOUN Law graduate is given a fair opportunity to complete his or her professional legal education,” the statement added.
