Former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch, Adebayo Akinlade, has urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to undertake a far-reaching review of the Magistrates’ Courts Law, proposing the renaming of Magistrates as “District Judges”, an increase in their civil jurisdiction to ₦50 million, a monthly salary of ₦3.5 million and significantly improved welfare and retirement benefits.
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Akinlade made the proposals in a memorandum dated September 2, 2026, addressed to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly as part of the ongoing consideration of amendments to the Magistrates’ Courts Law, Cap M1, Laws of Lagos State 2015.
The lawyer, who chaired the NBA Ikorodu Branch between 2018 and 2020 and is Convener of the Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary and Citizens’ Support for Lower Courts, said the existing framework governing Magistrates had become inadequate in the face of inflation, population growth and persistent delays in the justice system.
According to him, other states have reviewed their laws to reflect changing economic and social realities, making a similar overhaul necessary in Lagos.
Akinlade placed the recognition and welfare of Magistrates at the centre of his proposals, arguing that despite the volume and seriousness of cases handled by them, Magistrates continue to be treated essentially as civil servants rather than judicial officers.
He said individual Magistrates adjudicate over 300 cases, including civil claims of up to ₦10 million and criminal matters carrying imprisonment terms of as much as 14 years.
He argued that their remuneration had not been substantially reconsidered since 2009, a situation he said had weakened morale and contributed to the departure of talented lawyers from the state judiciary.
Akinlade relied on Section 4(3) of the Magistrates Court Law 2009, which he said expressly provides that Magistrates are to serve as judicial officers to the exclusion of any other function.
He also invoked Section 93 of the law, which, according to the memorandum, provides for a single cadre of Magistrates, and called for the eradication of the existing categorisation of Magistrates.
The former NBA chairman further cited the decision of the Court of Appeal in Lagos State Judicial Service Commission v. Muziq Abodunrin Etti, Appeal No. CA/LAG/CV/17/23, as authority for his argument that the Magistrates’ Court Law, rather than the Public Service Rules, should regulate the affairs and retirement of Magistrates.
Among the reforms proposed in the memorandum is a change in nomenclature from “Magistrates” to “District Judges”, which Akinlade said would better reflect their status as judicial officers and mirror the terminology already adopted in the Federal Capital Territory.
He also proposed an upward review of the monthly remuneration of Magistrates to ₦3.5 million, linking the demand to the recent salary increase granted to superior court judges.
The memorandum further seeks an increase in court running grants to ₦350,000 monthly to enable Magistrates meet operational expenses.
On accommodation and security, Akinlade asked the state to provide secured housing to Magistrates upon appointment, arguing that judicial officers should not be exposed to the embarrassment and insecurity associated with private rental accommodation.
He nevertheless acknowledged the Lagos State Government’s ongoing housing allocation programme for Magistrates.
He also proposed that Magistrates be allocated official vehicles upon appointment, with a replacement policy every four years and an option to board the vehicles, similar to arrangements applicable to High Court judges.
The memorandum additionally calls for specialised health insurance for Magistrates to address occupational health challenges, including spinal and related conditions associated with prolonged sitting in court.
For retirement, Akinlade proposed that retired Magistrates should receive their last basic salary for life as a means of guaranteeing what he described as a dignified retirement.
Beyond welfare, the lawyer also asked the House to substantially increase the monetary jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts.
According to the memorandum, the existing ₦10 million civil jurisdiction is no longer realistic in 2026 because many disputes involving rents, debts and contracts now exceed that threshold, forcing cases that could ordinarily be resolved at the lower courts into the High Court.
Akinlade therefore proposed that the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates be increased from ₦10 million to ₦50 million, rather than merely making a modest adjustment to the existing limit.
He argued that the proposed ₦50 million threshold would reflect present economic realities and pointed to the jurisdictional limits of lower courts in Delta State as an example.
The proposal is particularly significant as the Lagos State House of Assembly is already considering amendments to the Magistrates’ Court Law, including a separate proposal to increase the monetary jurisdiction of Magistrates from ₦10 million to ₦25 million.
Akinlade’s memorandum therefore asks lawmakers to go further by fixing the ceiling at ₦50 million while simultaneously addressing the status, remuneration, operational funding and long-term welfare of Magistrates.
He maintained that strengthening the Magistracy would reduce the volume of cases reaching the High Court and improve access to speedy justice at the grassroots.
In his formal prayers, Akinlade asked the House to review the Magistrates’ Courts Law, Cap M1, Laws of Lagos State 2015, and enact an amendment addressing the concerns raised in his memorandum “in the interest of justice and efficient judicial administration in Lagos State.”
“We believe these amendments will decongest the High Court, ensure speedy justice, and bring the law in line with current realities in Lagos State,” the memorandum stated.
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