The “Magistrate Courts Amendment Bill” 2026, which aims to improve the welfare and working conditions of magistrates, retain experienced judicial officers in the service, fortify the magistracy, and improve the efficient administration of justice in the state, was read by Lagos lawmakers for the second time during the plenary on Monday.
In order to allow knowledgeable and experienced magistrates to continue serving the state, the amended bill suggests raising the retirement age. The goal of this programme is to encourage consistency in court cases. The proposed amendment, according to Hon. Oladipo Ajomale, chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition, and LASIEC, aims to strengthen the magistracy, improve the conditions of service for magistrates, and improve the state’s administration of justice.
He went on to explain that the State has made large investments in the education and training of magistrates, highlighting the necessity of proper welfare and better working conditions in order to preserve the knowledge that judicial officers have gained within the system.
Hon. Ajomale argued in favour of raising the retirement age for magistrates from 60 to 65 years old, arguing that allowing seasoned magistrates to retire at 60 could lead to the loss of important knowledge and experience at a crucial time when their experience is most important.
He went on to explain that magistrates deal with a large number of cases involving regular people. He emphasised that a magistrate’s retirement during a case could cause delays and, in some cases, necessitate starting the process over.
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Hon. Buon Solomon spoke out in favour of the proposed amended bill, arguing for increased research techniques and better state magistrate welfare.
He pointed out that magistrates deal with heavy workloads; some are said to handle more than 100 cases in a single day. He emphasised that the House must pay more attention to the welfare and working conditions of magistrates due to the pressure they face.
According to Hon. Bonu, enhancing the welfare of magistrates would encourage them to carry out their duties more effectively, which would enhance the administration of justice across the state.
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