By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced work on a bill to extend the retirement age for magistrates and presidents of Grade ‘A’ Customary Courts in the state.
The bill was the focus of a public hearing held today at the Mini Chamber of the Assembly Complex in Akure, where stakeholders from the Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Law Commission, and other bodies made submissions.
The public hearing was organized by the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Hon. (Barr.) Oluwarotimi Abitogun Stephen. Other members in attendance were Hon. (Barr.) Afe Felix, Hon. Olajide Oguntodu, Hon. Olatunji Oshati, Hon. Olatunji Ifabiyi and Hon. Allen Oluwatoyin.
In his opening remarks,The Chairman of the committee, Hon Barr Stephen Abitogun said the bill is designed to strengthen justice administration by retaining experienced officers in the lower courts and improving their efficiency.
He described magistrates and Customary Court presidents as frontline officers who are the first contact for citizens seeking justice, adding that the bill seeks to align their conditions of service with current best practices.
The committee chairman assured stakeholders that all memoranda presented would be given fair and objective consideration.
Speaking at the hearing, the Vice Chairman of the committee, Hon. (Barr.) Afe Felix, said lawmakers appreciate the importance of the bill, while Hon. Allen Oluwatoyin commended Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for prioritizing judicial welfare.
On his part, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice A.O. Odusola, who was represented by Hon. Justice Akinbinu, warned against extending the proposed 65-year retirement age meant for judicial officers to civil servants in the judiciary. He said doing so could cause disparity and industrial unrest.
In her submission, the Chairperson of the Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, His Worship Oluwafunmi Abosede Edwin, called for an upward review of the retirement age to 65 years, alongside improved salaries, allowances and retirement benefits. She said better welfare would boost morale and enhance justice delivery.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Ondo State Chapter, Mr. Ale Abayomi, called for the implementation of the 1998 Policy Harmonisation Agreement, warning that failure to implement it threatens the justice system.
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Akure Branch, Mr. Kekemeke Oju, supported the calls for improved welfare, noting that it is key to effective justice delivery.
Closing the hearing, the Clerk of the House, Barr. Benjamin Jaiyeola, said the bill aims to retain expertise and prevent the premature loss of experienced judicial officers. He assured that all submissions would be holistically considered.
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