*Says Proposal Seeks To Correct Career Imbalance
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The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, has clarified that the proposed amendment seeking to increase the retirement age of magistrates and law officers in the state was not sponsored by the Executive or his office.
Pedro said the bill is a Private Member’s Bill currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, although the proposal has been considered justifiable in the interest of strengthening and sustaining the justice sector.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the proposed amendment is not an Executive Bill and is not sponsored by the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice,” he said.
According to him, the position of the Ministry of Justice on the proposal is rooted in a longstanding Lagos State policy of harmonising the conditions of service of law officers with those of magistrates, a policy he said has existed since 1997.
Pedro said similar arrangements exist in several states, including Abia, Kogi, Benue, Imo, Kwara and Osun, arguing that the proposed amendment should therefore be seen as a continuation of an existing policy rather than the creation of a new privilege for law officers.
He noted that Osun State had, through Law No. 7 of 2023, increased the retirement age of officers involved in the administration of justice, including state counsel and court registrars, to 65 years.
The Attorney-General explained that the proposed reform is specifically targeted at law officers as a specialised professional cadre involved in the administration of justice and does not apply to lawyers generally.
He said the proposed increase became more significant following the constitutional amendment that raised the retirement age of High Court judges from 65 to 70 years.
According to Pedro, before the amendment to Section 291(1) of the 1999 Constitution, High Court judges retired at 65, creating regular vacancies that allowed experienced chief magistrates and senior law officers to progress to the High Court Bench.
He said the extension of the retirement age of High Court judges has reduced those vacancies, leaving some experienced magistrates and law officers facing retirement at 60 despite previously having a realistic opportunity of elevation to the Bench.
Pedro described the situation as an imbalance in the career structure of the justice sector, warning that it could lead to the premature loss of experienced personnel.
“The proposed amendment is therefore intended to correct this unintended disparity and establish a more coherent and sustainable career structure within the justice system,” he said.
He added that the reform would help Lagos retain experienced personnel, preserve institutional knowledge, improve succession planning and promote mentorship for younger judicial and legal officers.
Under the proposed amendment, a magistrate or law officer may choose to retire at 60 but would be required to leave office at 65 or after 40 years in service, whichever comes earlier.
Pedro urged the public to assess the proposal on the basis of its rationale and policy implications rather than emotion or sentiment, insisting that the reform was designed to promote fairness in career progression, retain valuable expertise and strengthen the administration of justice in Lagos State.
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