Big Changes Coming? Tinubu Asks Senate to Pass Massive New Criminal Justice & Education Bills

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially thrown down the gauntlet to the National Assembly, demanding swift action on two major executive bills aimed at completely overhauling Nigeria’s criminal justice system and upgrading public high school education.

The President’s formal requests were contained in separate letters read on the Senate floor by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

If you’ve been following the news, you know our judicial and public school systems have been facing serious bottlenecks. Here is a quick breakdown of exactly what these new 2026 bills mean for everyday Nigerians.

1. The Criminal Justice Overhaul (Goodbye ACJA 2015, Hello 2026)

Tinubu is seeking to completely repeal the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 and replace it with a brand-new Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2026.

The presidency noted that the old 2015 law has been struggling with modern realities, leading to endless court delays, poor case management, and a lack of technological integration.

What’s New in the 2026 Proposal?

• Abolishing “Trial-Within-Trial”: This is a massive shift. Traditionally, courts spent months pausing main trials just to argue over whether a suspect’s confession was given voluntarily. The new bill looks to scrap this delay tactic entirely.
• National Sex Offenders Register: The new law will officially domicile a public register under the Attorney-General’s office to track and publish the details of convicted sex offenders.
• More Tech in the Courtroom: The bill pushes heavily for digital case management, online filings, and the deployment of technology to speed up cases—especially high-profile ones that usually drag on for years.
• A Stronger Monitoring Council: A new governing board featuring members of the NBA, civil society, and law enforcement will ensure that police and courts actually follow the rules and stop illegal detentions.

2. Senior Secondary Education Upgrade

The second bill hitting the Senate floor is the National Senior Secondary Education Commission Amendment Bill, 2026.

Approved by the Federal Executive Council earlier this year, this bill is focused strictly on fixing the administration and governance of public senior secondary schools across the country. The goal is to enforce better educational standards, plug funding loopholes, and ensure our public high schools are actually competitive.

What Happens Next?

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has referred the Criminal Justice Bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters (with a 4-week deadline to report back), while the Education Bill was fast-tracked to the Rules and Business Committee for a 1-week review.

Over to You: Do you think scrapping things like the “trial-within-trial” will finally make Nigerian courts fast, or is the problem deeper than just changing the laws? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!