Lagos Assembly Moves to Extend Magistrates’ Retirement Age to 65

The Lagos State House of Assembly has commenced moves to increase the retirement age of magistrates in the state from 60 to 65 years.

The move followed the second reading of the Lagos Magistrate Courts Amendment Bill 2026 during plenary on Monday.

The proposed amendment seeks to strengthen the magistracy, retain experienced judicial officers and improve the administration of justice across the state.

Leading the debate, the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, Oladipo Ajomale, said the state had invested significantly in the training and professional development of magistrates.

He said extending their retirement age would help retain valuable experience within the judiciary and promote continuity in cases before the courts.

Ajomale noted that the retirement of magistrates handling ongoing cases could lead to delays and, in some instances, force proceedings to begin afresh.

Contributing to the debate, lawmaker Bonu Solomon called for improved welfare and working conditions for magistrates, noting the heavy workload faced by judicial officers.

He said some magistrates reportedly handle more than 100 cases in a day, stressing the need for better welfare to enable them to perform their duties effectively.

The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, also argued that retirement should not be determined solely by age, but should take into account the competence and ability of judicial officers to continue performing effectively.

He noted that many people above 60 remain productive, saying competent magistrates should be allowed to continue serving while those unable to 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 given one week to scrutinise the bill and submit its report to the House.