The Lagos State House of Assembly has begun moves to raise the retirement age of magistrates in the state from 60 to 65 years.
The lawmakers took the step on Monday during plenary while debating the Magistrate Courts Amendment Bill 2026, which seeks to strengthen the magistracy, retain experienced judicial officers and improve the administration of justice.
Leading the debate, Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Oladipo Ajomale, said the proposed amendment was aimed at improving the welfare and conditions of service of magistrates.
Ajomale said the state had invested significantly in the training and professional development of magistrates, adding that better working conditions were necessary to retain their expertise within the judicial system.
He also said the proposed amendment would promote continuity in cases before the courts and minimise disruptions caused by the retirement of magistrates handling ongoing matters.
Contributing to the debate, Bonu Solomon called for further research into the working conditions of magistrates and improved welfare packages for judicial officers.
Bonu noted that magistrates often handled heavy workloads, with some reportedly attending to more than 100 cases in a single day.
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said retirement should not be determined solely by age but should also take into account the competence, capacity and ability of judicial officers to continue performing their duties effectively.
Obasa observed that many people above 60 remained active and productive, arguing that competent magistrates should be allowed to continue serving, while those who could no longer perform effectively should retire.
Following the debate, Obasa referred the bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC for further consideration.
The committee was directed to submit its report to the House within one week.
