The Senate has passed the Constitution Alteration Bill No. 20, which provides for a uniform retirement age for judicial officers in Nigeria. The bill has been directed to the President for his assent, in line with the provisions of the Authentication Act.
The motion titled “Passage of Constitution (Fifth) Alteration Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers), 2023,” was sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC-Delta Central), Chairman of the Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review.
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. Previously, Sokoto State House of Assembly was among the State Houses of Assembly that were yet to forward their resolution, others include Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto, and Taraba State Houses of Assembly.
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger North), the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, stated that the uniform retirement age for judicial officers is one of the key elements of the Ninth Senate Legislative Agenda to reform the Judiciary. This amendment aims to remove the backlog of cases and ensure speedy dispensation of justice.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, expressed that this is a very important amendment to the Constitution, and the 9th National Assembly is proud to include it as part of their legacy.