Following an extended session that continued past midnight, Parliament has successfully passed the Tribunals Bill, 2026, despite significant opposition from the Minority, which chose to boycott the approval process.
The Bill is now pending presidential assent to be enacted into law. This legislation aims to create Regional and District Tribunals throughout the nation to address specialized cases, such as illegal mining, tax and customs violations, fraud, and matters involving economic losses to the state.
The government asserts that these tribunals will expedite the prosecution of intricate public interest and economic crime cases while enhancing access to justice.
However, critics have expressed concerns regarding the timing of the Bill and the necessity for safeguards to ensure the independence of the tribunals.
Earlier this year, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, presented the Tribunals Bill, 2026 to Parliament.
At that time, he indicated that the proposed legislation aimed to enhance access to justice, alleviate the backlog of cases in the courts, and reestablish tribunals with constitutional protections and more robust oversight mechanisms.
After its introduction, the Bill was sent to Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee for thorough examination and consideration before being returned to the House for discussion.
With Parliament’s approval, the legislation is now one step closer to being implemented, pending presidential assent.
