Tinubu Proposes Expansion of Federal High Court, Appeal Court Judges to Boost Judicial Efficiency

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has forwarded two key amendment bills to the House of Representatives, aiming to bolster the nation’s judiciary by increasing the number of judges in the Federal High Court from 70 to 90 and justices in the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110. The proposals, which seek to address mounting case backlogs and enhance the speed of justice delivery, were read on the floor of the House during Wednesday’s plenary session by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

In separate letters addressed to the Speaker, President Tinubu highlighted the need for these reforms to strengthen the institutional capacity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the courts. He noted that the Federal High Court Act, originally capped at 50 judges under Section 1(2) of Cap F-12 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, was previously amended to 70 in 2005. The president argued that the proposed increase to 90 judges would significantly improve the judge-to-case ratio, allowing for faster and higher-quality adjudication in complex areas such as terrorism-related offences, transnational organised crimes, financial crimes, taxation, intellectual property, and maritime law – matters that directly impact national security.

“I hereby present the Federal High Court Amendment Bill 2025 and trust that the House will consider the passage of the bill expeditiously,” Tinubu stated in his communication, emphasizing the urgency of the reforms to align with contemporary demands on the judiciary.

In a similar vein, the second bill targets the Court of Appeal Act, proposing an expansion from 70 to 110 justices alongside clarifications on the judicial structure and seniority rankings, including the position of the Court of Appeal President. The president explained that the amendments would modernise court proceedings by introducing virtual hearings through electronic and audio means, as well as establishing an Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC) within the Court of Appeal. This centre would handle referrals for appellate matters, promoting out-of-court settlements to reduce congestion.

Tinubu further underscored that these changes aim to enhance professional efficiency and legal certainty in appellate practices, bringing Nigeria’s judicial system in line with global standards. “The court now bears a substantial and expanding responsibility for the prosecution of terrorism-related offences, transnational organised crimes, and other matters touching directly on national security,” he added.

Beyond the judicial bills, President Tinubu also transmitted 24 bills related to the health sector for legislative consideration. All proposals have been referred to the relevant House committees for further scrutiny and action.

NaijaChoice News reports that similar letters were presented to the Senate on Tuesday, where Senate President Godswill Akpabio read them during plenary. This coordinated push across both chambers of the National Assembly signals a broader effort to overhaul key sectors, including justice and healthcare, amid calls for improved governance and service delivery.

Legal experts and stakeholders have welcomed the initiatives, noting that Nigeria’s judiciary has long grappled with delays due to understaffing and outdated processes. The expansions are expected to alleviate these issues, fostering a more robust legal framework to support economic growth and security. However, the bills will undergo rigorous debates in committees before advancing to full readings.

As the 10th National Assembly resumes full activities post-holiday recess, these proposals mark a significant step in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on institutional reforms for a more efficient Nigeria.