Tinubu raises judges’ retirement age to 70

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday raised the retirement age of Nigeria’s judicial officers from 65 to 70 years by signing into law a bill on uniform retirement age for judicial officers.

Tinubu assented to the bill at the State House, Abuja, in exercising the powers vested in him under the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The bill which was passed by the outgoing 9th National Assembly, was titled, “Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.37), 2023”.

The bill defines a judicial officer of superior courts of the 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/she attains the age of sixty-five years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of seventy years”.

According to a statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, Tinubu while signing the amendment Bill into law, pledged his administration’s dedication to strengthening the judiciary, ensuring the rule of law, and empowering judicial officers to execute their responsibilities effectively.