House of Representatives Considers Increasing Supreme Court Justices To 41
The House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review is deliberating on a bill proposing an increase in the number of Supreme Court Justices from 21 to 41.
The bill, sponsored by Representatives Mansur Soro and Oluwole Oke, seeks to amend Section 230 of the 1999 Constitution to address the growing workload of Nigeria’s apex court.
Currently, the Supreme Court operates with only 20 Justices, following recent retirements, which has strained its capacity to deliver timely judgments.
Explaining the rationale behind the proposal, Rep. Soro stated, “Justice delayed is justice denied. Increasing the number of Justices will facilitate faster justice delivery and strengthen the judiciary’s effectiveness.”
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in early 2025, providing stakeholders and the public an opportunity to contribute to the discussion.
The National Assembly aims to complete the broader constitutional amendment process by December 2025.
If passed, this change could significantly enhance the efficiency of Nigeria’s judicial system, ensuring quicker resolution of cases and reducing the backlog of pending matters at the Supreme Court.
