Finally, the National Assembly has passed the bill abolishing the dichotomy between the retirement age of judges in Nigeria’s High Courts and those at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
The Constitution provides that justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal retire at 70 while those at the High Court retire at 65.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Assembly has directed its Clerk to transmit the Constitution Alteration Bill 20 which approves a uniform retirement age for judicial officers in Nigeria to the president for assent.
This is sequel to the adoption of a motion titled: “Passage of Constitution (Fifth) Alteration Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), 2023” at plenary on Tuesday.
The bill which seeks to extend the retirement age of High Court judges from 65 to 70 years will make the retirement age of High Court judges same as that of the justices of the two appellate courts.
The motion which was sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review, Ovie Omo-Agege, was in line with provisions of the Authentication Act.
“Recall that on Tuesday, April 4, the Clerk to the National Assembly was directed to transmit Constitution Alteration Bill No. 47 (Establishment of State Security Council) after it met the requirement of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to Mr. President for his assent.
“Recall also that Sokoto State House of Assembly was among the State Houses of Assembly that were yet to forward their resolution. Others are Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, and Taraba State Houses of Assembly.
“Aware that Sokoto state House of Assembly has forwarded its resolution; and convinced that with the approval of Sokoto State House of Assembly, the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), has met the provisions of Section 9(2) of the Constitution, for passage,” Mr. Omo-Agege said.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger), supported the motion.
“This is one of the key elements of the Ninth Senate legislative agenda to reform the judiciary.
“Having a uniform retirement age for the Judiciary will remove the backlog of cases and ensure speedy dispensation of justice,” he said.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan expressed delight over the development.
“This is a very important amendment to the Constitution and we are happy that it is going to be part of our legacy as the 9th National Assembly,” he said,
(NAN)
