In its bid to strengthen the Nation’s Constitution, the National Assembly as at March this year voted on 68 amendments to the 1999 Constitution after which it was transmitted to State Houses of Assemblies for Concurrence where applicable before final ratification.

Kogi State House of Assembly, in exercising its legislative powers on the Fifth Alteration Bill of the 1999 constitution, concurred with the National Assembly and passed 44 Bills to that effect.

Among such bills are the passage of: Full Financial and Administrative Autonomy for LGAs and abrogation of State and Local Govt joint Accounts, Financial Independence of State Houses of Assembly and State Judiciary, To establish the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the State separate from the Office of Minister of Justice or Commissioner for Justice to insulate them from partisan politics and also alteration of section 291 to ensure uniformity in the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers of superior Courts of records.

With this development, if it eventually sails through and is signed by Mr. President, the retirement age of Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Records will now be Seventy years of age.

Speaking on this development, a former Chairman of Lokoja Chapter of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Barrister Sam Owoyomi commended Kogi State House of Assembly for taking the bold step which he noted would help the administration of justice in the State.

Barr. Owoyomi said the experience of Judges would be an added advantage for them to perform effectively on the job but appealed that their welfare should be taken care of as well as the provision of a more conducive atmosphere for them to perform optimally.

In his opinion, a one-time Chairman also of Lokoja Chapter of NBA and an experienced legal luminary, Barr. Williams Aliwo said the development is a welcomed one if the age would reflect the genuine ages of those judicial officers.

Barr. Aliwo also agreed that the experience of judicial officers is very key as to create a reservoir of knowledge in the adjudication of cases if not abused.

Also speaking, Barr. Alhasan Ibrahim said such alteration is not necessary to allow up coming judges gets to the top as well.

According to him, the alteration if allowed may affect effective dispensation of justice for some judicial officers.

Those who spoke on condition of anonymity described the action of Kogi State House of Assembly as a step in the right direction and commended the leadership for the bold steps especially the passage on the age of Judicial Officers to be at par with that of other judges of Superior Courts.

They appealed that the National Judicial Council, NJC, be fully empowered to take charge of the retirement and pension benefits of judicial officers for a balanced post retirement life.