President Bola Tinubu, has signed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Fifth Alteration, No.37, 2023, which was presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly into law.

By signing the bill, all judicial officers of superior courts of record will now retire from service at age 70 instead of stipulated 65years, while their pension and other related matters would also be uniform.

The bill set in motion defines a judicial officer of superior courts of record as:

A judicial officer appointed to the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, High Court of Federal Capital Territory Abuja, High Court of a State, Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Sharia Court of Appeal of a State and Customary Court of Appeal of a State may retire when he attains the age of sixty-five years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of seventy years.”

The constitution alteration bills was sent to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence in 2022, but did not secure the required approval until now.

President Tinubu, while signing the bill, pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to execute their responsibilities effectively.

Story:Hilda Katu

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