- Parliament has passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, according to 3News.
- The Bill proposes Regional and District Tribunals for specialised categories of cases.
- The legislation requires presidential assent before it can become law.
Parliament has passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, moving the proposed establishment of Regional and District Tribunals a step closer to implementation.
According to 3News, the Bill was approved after a sitting that continued beyond midnight. The Minority opposed the measure and boycotted the approval process, the report said.
The legislation will now be submitted for presidential assent. It would take effect as law only after receiving that assent.
Purpose of the proposed tribunals
The Bill seeks to create tribunals across the country to deal with specialised matters, including cases connected to illegal mining, tax and customs offences, fraud, and economic loss to the state.
Government’s stated position is that the tribunals would help speed up the handling of complex public-interest and economic-crime cases, while improving access to justice. The proposal is also intended to reduce backlogs in the courts.
Critics, however, have questioned the timing of the legislation and called for safeguards to protect the independence of the proposed tribunals.
Parliamentary process
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr Dominic Ayine laid the Tribunals Bill before Parliament earlier this year. At its introduction, he said the proposal would bring back tribunals with constitutional safeguards and stronger oversight mechanisms.
After being laid before the House, the Bill was referred to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for detailed consideration. It was subsequently returned to Parliament for debate before its passage.
The legislation’s next formal step is presidential assent.
