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Lagos state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, Wednesday, clarified that the proposed amendment to the Magistrates’ Law before the state House of Assembly is not an Executive Bill but a private member initiative aimed at addressing structural issues in the justice system.
Pedro said the clarification became necessary following controversy over the origin, purpose and policy context of the proposed legislation. Contrary to public perception, the bill was not sponsored by his office but was independently introduced and is currently undergoing legislative consideration by the assembly.
He stated that the Ministry of Justice’s position was based on a longstanding policy harmonising the conditions of service of law officers with those of magistrates, a framework that has existed in Lagos since 1997 following a government circular..
He said similar legislation has been enacted in Abia, Kogi, Benue, Imo and Kwara states to ensure parity between law officers and magistrates in remuneration and conditions of service.
Pedro said the proposed amendment should therefore be seen as a continuation of an established policy rather than an attempt to create new privileges for a particular group.
The AG also cited the example of Osun state, where a 2023 law raised the retirement age of officers involved in the administration of justice, including state counsel and court registrars, to 65 years.
