Lagos Assembly Weighs Judicial Reforms, Proposes Higher Retirement Age For Magistrates
Kehinde Adeleye
The Lagos State House of Assembly has commenced a public hearing on the proposed amendment of the state’s Magistrates’ Courts Law, 2015, with stakeholders weighing reforms aimed at improving the administration and accessibility of justice.
The Magistrates’ Court Amendment Bill, 2026, proposes, among other changes, an increase in the mandatory retirement age for magistrates from 60 to 65 years or 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
The public hearing was held on Monday at the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, said the proposed amendment would enable the judiciary to retain experienced magistrates and benefit from their accumulated knowledge and expertise.
She also disclosed that the bill seeks to increase the financial jurisdiction of magistrates from N10 million to N25 million.
According to her, the proposed increase would help reduce the workload of the High Courts and facilitate faster determination of cases.
Meranda said the public hearing was part of the Assembly’s commitment to openness and broad stakeholder participation in the legislative process.
She urged members of the legal profession, judicial officers and other stakeholders to make constructive contributions that would assist lawmakers in strengthening the proposed legislation.
Lawmakers Defend Proposed Reforms
Also speaking, Hon. Owolabi Ibrahim Ajani, representing Lagos Mainland I Constituency, said the bill was designed to strengthen the justice system and improve access to justice across the state.
Ajani said extending the retirement age of magistrates to 65 years or 35 years in service, whichever comes first, would help preserve institutional knowledge and experience within the judiciary while also creating room for career progression.
He also backed the proposed increase in the civil jurisdiction of magistrates from N10 million to N25 million, saying it was necessary to reflect current economic realities and reduce pressure on the higher courts.
He called on lawyers, judicial officers, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to submit relevant recommendations to the Assembly.
According to him, the submissions would guide the appropriate committee of the House in its deliberations and recommendations before the bill is considered for passage.
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The Chairman of the Lagos State Bar Association, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, welcomed the proposed increase in the retirement age, saying the judiciary could benefit from the experience accumulated by magistrates over the years.
However, Akingbade urged the Assembly to make any extension of a magistrate’s service subject to good health and regular medical assessments.
She also called for adequate safeguards around the proposed power of the Chief Judge to increase the jurisdiction of magistrates, stressing the need for clear checks and balances to prevent possible abuse.
Akingbade further urged lawmakers to address the welfare and working conditions of magistrates, citing heavy workloads, inadequate remuneration and administrative challenges.
She called for increased funding for magistrates’ courts, alongside the adoption of technology driven civil adjudication and online dispute resolution mechanisms.
According to her, these measures would be crucial to ensuring that the proposed expansion of magistrates’ jurisdiction does not create additional delays in the justice system.
The stakeholders’ submissions are expected to assist the Assembly’s relevant committee in refining the bill before it is presented for further legislative consideration.
