President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate’s approval for wide-ranging judicial reforms designed to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system by increasing the number of judges in key superior courts and improving case management.
At the resumption of plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from the President, seeking an amendment to the Court of Appeal Act to expand the number of justices from 70 to 110.
According to President Tinubu, the proposed increase is necessary to enhance the efficiency of the appellate court and address the rising volume of cases across the country.
In a related request, the President transmitted a bill to amend the Federal High Court Act, proposing an increase in the number of judges from the current 70 to 90, up from the original statutory provision of 50. Tinubu urged lawmakers to accord the bill expedited consideration in view of the growing workload facing the court.
The proposed amendments were referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Business for further legislative action.
Beyond structural reforms, the President also sought Senate confirmation of the appointment of Oyewole Joseph Kayode as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a move seen as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce the apex court.
Additionally, the Senate received a separate Court of Appeal Amendment Bill proposing the establishment of an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre.
The initiative is aimed at promoting out-of-court settlement of suitable cases, easing pressure on the formal judicial process and accelerating justice delivery. This bill was also referred to the Committee on Rules and Business.
In another communication, President Tinubu requested amendments to 24 health sector bills currently before the National Assembly, citing concerns over over-bloated board memberships and the need for more streamlined governance structures within health institutions.
The combined proposals underscore the administration’s push for institutional reforms across both the judiciary and the health sector, with lawmakers expected to deliberate further on the measures in the coming weeks.