President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval for a series of judicial reforms designed to expand the number of judges across key courts in Nigeria.
During Tuesday’s plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from President Tinubu requesting an amendment to the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices from 70 to 110. The President cited the need to strengthen the court and address the growing volume of cases.
Tinubu also transmitted a bill seeking amendments to the Federal High Court Act to raise the number of judges from 70 to 90, up from the original provision of 50 judges. He urged the Senate to give the bill expedited consideration. Both proposals were referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
In addition, the President requested Senate confirmation of the appointment of Justice Oyewole Joseph Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The Senate also received a Court of Appeal Amendment Bill proposing the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre to facilitate the settlement of suitable cases outside the traditional court system. This bill was similarly referred to the Committee on Rules and Business.
Beyond the judiciary, President Tinubu forwarded a separate communication seeking amendments to 24 health sector bills aimed at addressing issues related to over-bloated board memberships, signalling a broader push to streamline governance across key sectors.
If approved, these measures are expected to improve case management in Nigeria’s courts, enhance dispute resolution mechanisms, and strengthen oversight in the health sector.
