The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to increase the number of judges in the Federal High Court from 70 to 90 for second reading.
The bill, which aims to amend the Federal High Court Act, was considered and approved during plenary.
The development follows a request by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly for amendments to laws governing major courts across the country as part of wider judicial reforms.
The request was contained in a Judicial Reform Bill transmitted to lawmakers.
According to a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President said the proposed amendments are necessary to strengthen the judiciary and address the growing number of cases before the courts.
Tinubu is also seeking an amendment to the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of justices of the Court of Appeal from 70 to 110.
In addition, the President proposed changes to the Federal High Court Act to raise the number of judges from the current 70 to 90, an increase from the original provision of 50 judges.
Meanwhile, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has revealed plans to introduce a bill proposing a single six-year tenure for presidents and state governors after the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the proposal is designed to replace the current two-term system for elected executives.
Bamidele said the bill would be among the first pieces of legislation he intends to present when the next Senate is inaugurated.
He explained that a single six-year term would allow elected leaders to focus more on governance rather than spending time and resources preparing for re-election campaigns.
According to the Senate Leader, the current two-term arrangement often encourages office holders to begin political calculations early in their first term, reducing the attention given to governance and policy implementation.
