By our Correspondent
President Ahmed Tinubu, Thursday set the ball rolling by consented to a constitutional amendment bill harmonizing the retirement age for judges in all courts.
The Director of Information of the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, revealed in a statement on Thursday that the president signed the bill presented by the outgoing IX National Assembly.
“Exercising the powers vested in him by the 1999 amended Constitution, President Bola Tinubu approved a new amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the House of Representatives on Thursday.
“President Tinubu signed into law the ‘Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Amendment) (No.37), 2023’ introduced by the outgoing 9th National Assembly.
“With the signing of the constitutional amendment bill, the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers have been effectively standardized and other related matters.”
Until now, state and federal superior court judges had to leave the bench once they turned 65.
Similarly, judges of the National Labor Court and Sharia and customary courts of appeal must retire at age 65.
But judges of both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court can remain in office until the age of 70.
The bill signed by Tinubu on Thursday raised the retirement age for lower court judges from 65 to 70. This brings the retirement of lower court judges on par with that of Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judges. Court.
The Nigerian constitution refers to these courts as higher courts of record, a prestigious designation that separates them from magistrates’ courts and other lower courts.
The presidents of the lower courts are not under the direct disciplinary control of the National Judicial Council (NJC), unlike the judges of the higher courts of record.
The House statement said Thursday that the president, in signing the bill, “pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officials to carry out their responsibilities.” effectively.”
The Senate had approved the bill on May 3, nearly four weeks before the end of then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s term.
With the simultaneous passage of the bill, the National Assembly subsequently directed its Secretary to transmit the Constitutional Amendment Bill 20, which approves the uniform retirement age for judicial officers in Nigeria, to the president for approval.
This followed the adoption of a motion titled: “Approval of the (Fifth) Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), 2023” in plenary on Tuesday.
The bill sought to extend the retirement age of High Court judges from 65 to 70 years.
The motion, which was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Constitutional Revision, Ovie Omo-Agege, was in line with the provisions of the Authentication Act.
“Remember that on Tuesday, April 4, the Secretary of the National Assembly was ordered to transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill No. 47 (Establishment of the State Security Council) after it met the requirement of Section 9 (2) of the Constitution to Mr. President for his assent
“Also remember that the Sokoto State House of Assembly was among the State Houses of Assembly that had not yet tabled their resolution. Others are Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba State Houses of Assembly.
“Aware that the Sokoto State House of Assembly has sent its resolution; and convinced that with the approval of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Constitution Bill No. 20 (Fifth Amendment) (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), has complied with the provisions of Section 9(2) of the Constitution, for approval.” said Mr. Omo-Agege.
“This is one of the key elements of the Ninth Senate’s legislative agenda to reform the judiciary.
“Having a uniform retirement age for the Judiciary will eliminate the backlog of cases and ensure a speedy administration of justice,” he said.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan expressed his satisfaction with the development.
“This is a very important amendment to the Constitution, and we are happy that it is part of our legacy as the IX National Assembly,” he said.
