The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, SAN, has clarified the controversy trailing the proposed amendment to the Magistrates Law of Lagos State seeking to increase the retirement age of Magistrates and Law Officers to 65 years.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 14, 2026, Pedro explained that the proposed amendment is not an Executive Bill and was not sponsored by his office, but a Private Member’s Bill currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly.
According to the Attorney General, the Bill has reasonable justification in the best interest of the State, particularly in strengthening and sustaining the justice sector.
Pedro said the position of his office is based on the long-standing policy of harmonisation of conditions of service of Law Officers with those of Magistrates in Lagos State, which has been implemented since 1997 pursuant to a Government Circular dated March 20, 1997.
He noted that Lagos is not alone in such a policy, as Abia State enacted the Law Officers Harmonisation with Magistrates Law in 2008, while Kogi, Benue, Imo and Kwara States have similar arrangements.
He added that Osun State, through Law No. 7 of 2023 assented to the Bill on December 15, 2023, increased the retirement age of officers involved in administration of justice including State Counsel and Court Registrars to 65 years.
The Lagos AG stressed that the proposal concerns Law Officers as a specialised professional cadre integral to administration of justice, and not lawyers generally, describing it as a continuation of existing policy rather than creation of new privilege.
Explaining the rationale, Pedro said the amendment became necessary following the Fifth Alteration (No. 37) Act, 2023 which amended Section 291(1) of the 1999 Constitution to increase the retirement age of High Court Judges from 65 to 70 years.
He explained that prior to the amendment, Judges retired at 65, creating regular vacancies on the High Court Bench which allowed experienced Chief Magistrates and senior Law Officers to be elevated.
"The extension of the retirement age of High Court Judges to 70 years has had a consequential effect on the career progression structure.
“The number of vacancies has diminished, thereby narrowing the traditional pathway through which experienced Chief Magistrates and senior Law Officers could progress to the High Court," Pedro stated.
He warned that without reform, experienced officers may be forced to retire at 60 despite having capacity to contribute, leading to premature loss of institutional knowledge and investment in their training.
Pedro disclosed that the proposed amendment will provide that: “A Magistrate or Law Officer in the State may retire when he attains the age of sixty years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of sixty-five years or 40 years in service whichever is earlier.”
He described the reform as a necessary and proportionate legislative response to promote fairness, retain expertise, enhance succession planning and mentorship, and prevent career stagnation at lower levels of the justice system.
The Attorney General urged the public to be guided by facts and not sentiment in discussing the Bill, noting that whether passed as a single legislation or separate laws, it should be supported by Lagosians desiring a competent justice sector.
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