27 years of democracy: How Tinubu’s judicial reforms strengthen the rule of law

By Vivian Okejeme

The Rule of Law requires that government actions, institutions, and citizens remain subject to constitutional provisions, judicial independence, human rights, and due process. Since assuming office in 2023, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has placed judicial reform at the center of its Renewed Hope Manifesto, framing an independent and effective judiciary as the cornerstone of economic growth and good governance.

President Tinubu identified judicial reform as a core mandate from the outset, pledging far-reaching measures to secure the financial independence, effectiveness, and integrity of the judiciary. To deliver on this, constitutional amendments relating to judicial administration were signed into law to improve access to justice and strengthen court operations.

A key milestone was the Judicial Retirement Age Bill 2023. The law harmonized the retirement age of High Court judges with Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, raising it from 65 to 70 years. The reform aims to retain experienced jurists, reduce turnover on the bench, and preserve institutional memory within the judiciary.

On August 9, 2024, President Tinubu also signed the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc.) Bill. The legislation ended a 16-year stagnation in judicial remuneration. Proponents argue that competitive, transparent pay structures are critical to safeguarding judicial independence and reducing incentives for corruption.

Accordingly, there has been landmark judicial outcomes and autonomy in the three years of the Tinubu government. The administration has supported litigation to clarify constitutional powers and deepen federalism. The July 11, 2024, Supreme Court verdict on Local Government Area financial autonomy, pursued through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, was widely commended. The landmark judgment granted financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, barring state governors from receiving, withholding, or tampering with council funds. The decision is viewed as reinforcing constitutionalism at the grassroots level.

On economic governance, the administration maintains that subsidy removal, exchange-rate reforms, and fiscal restrictions are designed to correct long-standing distortions and improve accountability in public funds. These measures align with the broader reform agenda of creating a predictable, rules-based environment for investment and growth.

There are also efforts at modernizing the legal profession and justice sector. The Tinubu administration has initiated the Legal Practitioners Bill to modernize the legal framework governing the profession. Alongside the review of judicial remuneration, the move is intended to strengthen judicial independence and professional standards.

Notably, the Attorney-General’s office exercised its powers to terminate treasonable felony charges against civil rights activist Omoyele Sowore. Legal practitioner Frank Anam cited this as an attempt by the administration to distance itself from past authoritarian practices and signal respect for prosecutorial discretion within a rules-based system.

Legislative reviews also took the centre stage. In May 2025, President Tinubu announced a review of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act. The proposed review aims to expand protections against sexual and gender-based violence, reflecting the administration’s stated commitment to using legal instruments to address social harms.

The administration’s judicial agenda has focused on institutional reforms: raising the judicial retirement age, updating salaries after 16 years, securing LGA financial autonomy through the courts, and proposing modernization of legal practice laws. These steps target the structural and financial conditions necessary for an independent judiciary, which the administration presents as foundational to the rule of law and economic renewal under the Renewed Hope Manifesto.