Amendment of Lagos Magistracy Law: Why law officers also deserve 5-years extension
By Henry Ojelu LAGOS — Behind the controversy trailing the proposed amendment of the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court Law, 2015, is a policy question that goes beyond the proposed extension of the retirement age of Law Officers from 60 to 65 years like the Magistrates Findings by Vanguard show that the proposal is linked to a broader policy of harmonising the conditions of service of Law Officers in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice with those applicable to Magistrates in the Judiciary, a policy that had already received government approval and partial implementation.
Although the amendment was intended to extend the judicial careers of serving High Court Judges, it inadvertently created a significant institutional consequence for Chief Magistrates and Law Officers in the Ministry, whose statutory retirement age remained 60 years.
The history leading to the current amendment of the Magistrates Law dates back to 2023, when the retirement age of High Court Judges was increased from 65 to 70 years pursuant to a constitutional amendment.
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