Assembly to Hold Stakeholders’ Meeting on Magistrates’ Court Amendment Bill
By Victoria Tokolo
Concern is mounting within sections of the Lagos State Public Service over a proposed amendment to the Magistrates’ Court Law, 2015, which seeks, among other provisions, to raise the retirement age of Law Officers from 60 to 65 years.
The Lagos State House of Assembly’s Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition and LASIEC is scheduled to hold a stakeholders’ meeting on the Magistrates’ Court (Amendment) Bill, 2026, today, Monday, September 7.
Under the proposed amendment, Law Officers would reportedly have their maximum years of service increased from 35 to 40 years.
While proponents of the proposed extension may argue that it would help retain experienced personnel within the justice system, the selective nature of the provision has triggered questions over fairness and equity in the wider public service.
Lagos State has professionals across several cadres, including medicine, engineering, education, accounting, architecture, surveying and administration, many of whom also possess extensive experience and specialised expertise.
Stakeholders are therefore asking why the proposed five-year extension should apply specifically to Law Officers and whether similar consideration should be extended to other professional cadres within the state’s public service.
There are also concerns that raising the retirement age could have implications for promotion and succession within the civil service, particularly by delaying vacancies and limiting opportunities for younger officers to rise through the ranks.
Another issue attracting attention is the legislative route through which the proposed change is being introduced.
The amendment is being proposed under the Magistrates’ Court Law, which primarily provides the legal framework for the administration and operation of Magistrates’ Courts.
Law Officers, however, are members of the executive arm of government and the Lagos State Public Service. This has prompted questions over whether their conditions of service, including retirement age, should instead be addressed through the appropriate public service and legislative framework.
Meanwhile, stakeholders are also expected to raise concerns about the welfare and working conditions of some Magistrates, including reported challenges with official transportation and inadequate court facilities.
They may also call for improved infrastructure, technology, legal research facilities, security and welfare provisions, particularly if the monetary jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts is increased from N10 million to N25 million under the proposed amendment.
The debate is therefore expected to centre on four key questions: Why Law Officers? Why now? Why through the Magistrates’ Court Law? And why should similar consideration not be extended to other public service professionals?
Stakeholders insist that the debate should not be interpreted as opposition to Law Officers or their professional contributions, but as a broader conversation about fairness, consistency and sound legislative policy.
If the government’s objective is to retain experienced professionals within its workforce, stakeholders argue that Lagos State should consider a comprehensive policy that applies across the public service, rather than a provision that could be perceived as favouring one particular cadre.
The stakeholders’ meeting presents the House of Assembly with an opportunity to seek clarification from the Executive and carefully examine the proposed amendment to ensure that any changes to retirement policy are guided by fairness, transparency, consistency and the broader public interest.
