Tinubu raises judicial officers’ retirement age to 70

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday at the State House, Abuja, signed the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37) 2023, presented by the outgoing 9th National Assembly into law.

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

Abiodun Oladunjoye, Director of Information, in a statement, said the president signed the bill into law in the exercising of the powers vested in him under the 1999 Constitution as amended. 

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The bill defines a judicial officer of superior courts of record thus: “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.”

This was part of the constitution alteration bills transmitted to State Houses of Assembly for concurrence last year but not part of the 35 that secured the required approval of 24 out of 36 state assemblies.

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