Lagos Assembly begins hearing on Bill to raise Magistrates’ retirement age

The Lagos State House of Assembly has begun a public hearing on the Magistrates’ Court Amendment Bill, 2026, seeking to amend the Magistrates’ Courts Law of Lagos State, 2015, and provide for related matters.

Among other proposals, the bill seeks to raise the mandatory retirement age of magistrates from 60 to 65 years or 35 years in service, whichever comes first, in a move aimed at strengthening justice delivery and retaining experienced judicial officers.

The public hearing was held at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday.

The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, said the proposed amendment would enable the judiciary to retain experienced magistrates and benefit from their knowledge and expertise in the administration of justice.

He said the bill also seeks to increase the financial jurisdiction of magistrates from N10 million to N25 million, a move he said would reduce the workload on the High Courts and facilitate faster resolution of cases.

Obasa said the public hearing was designed to promote transparency and inclusiveness in the legislative process.

He urged stakeholders, legal practitioners and experts to make constructive contributions that would help strengthen the proposed amendments to the Magistrates’ Courts Law.

Speaking at the hearing, Hon. Owolabi Ibrahim Ajani, representing Lagos Mainland I Constituency, said the proposed amendments were aimed at strengthening the state’s judicial system and improving access to justice.

Ajani said raising the retirement age of magistrates from 60 to 65 years, or 35 years in service, whichever comes first, would help preserve institutional knowledge and expertise within the judiciary while also supporting career progression.

He also said the proposed increase in magistrates’ civil jurisdiction from N10 million to N25 million reflected current economic realities and would help ease the pressure on higher courts.

Ajani called on legal practitioners, judicial officers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to make meaningful contributions to the bill, saying their views would guide the relevant committee in making recommendations before its passage.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Bar Association, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, commended the proposed increase in the retirement age of magistrates, saying the judiciary needed to retain officers with valuable experience and expertise.

However, Akingbade urged the Assembly to make any extension of service subject to the magistrates’ good health and periodic medical evaluations.

She also called for adequate checks and balances on the proposed power of the Chief Judge to increase magistrates’ jurisdiction, warning that such powers should be exercised within clear safeguards to prevent abuse.

Akingbade further urged the Assembly to address the welfare of magistrates in the proposed legislation, citing their heavy caseloads, inadequate remuneration and administrative challenges.

She called for increased funding for magistrates’ courts, as well as the adoption of technology-enabled civil adjudication and online dispute resolution mechanisms.

According to her, these measures would be necessary to ensure that the proposed increase in magistrates’ jurisdiction does not result in further delays in the administration of justice.

The stakeholders’ submissions will form part of the considerations by the Assembly as it processes the proposed amendment before its passage.

Dear Vows