Recently, the National Judicial Council (NJC) made national headlines by compulsorily retiring several Justices (about nine in Imo State alone) over the falsification of their age. This bold but necessary move has rekindled public discourse on the disturbing and widespread culture of age falsification within Nigeria’s public service, particularly among civil servants. Beyond the judiciary, this cancerous practice continues to undermine the moral and legal foundation of public institutions and must now be addressed with urgency and finality.
Age falsification, whether by adding or subtracting years, is not merely a question of personal convenience; it is a direct violation of public trust and an abuse of office. Under Nigerian law, particularly Section 362 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, any act of falsifying documents, including birth certificates and age declarations, constitutes forgery and attracts a punishment of up to three years’ imprisonment. Similarly, Section 158(1) of the Penal Code criminalises forgery with intent to defraud and prescribes up to 14 years of imprisonment.
In the civil service, age falsification contravenes the provisions of the Public Service Rules (PSR) 2008 (Revised). Rule 030401 defines serious misconduct to include “falsification of records,” and Rule 030402 prescribes dismissal as the appropriate punishment. These rules underscore the gravity with which the law views such infractions.
Age falsification leads to unmerited extensions of tenure, deprives qualified citizens of opportunities, and clogs the system. It also promotes systemic dishonesty, erodes institutional integrity, and violates the principles of fairness and transparency in governance.
The judiciary, being the interpreter of the law and the last hope of the common man, must be beyond reproach. When judges, entrusted with the sacred responsibility of upholding justice, are found falsifying their ages to unlawfully remain in office, the very soul of justice is wounded. The NJC’s actions are commendable and represent a significant step toward institutional cleansing.
However, this should not end with Imo State alone. The NJC must extend this disciplinary hammer across all courts in Nigeria, state and federal, especially the appellate courts, including the Supreme Court. Justice must not be selective. If age falsification is a crime, it must not be treated differently because the offender wears a robe. Section 292(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) empowers the NJC to recommend the removal of judicial officers for misconduct.
Public service should be a calling of honour, not an avenue for manipulation or deceit. The culture of reducing one’s age to prolong service undermines the meritocratic principles on which public service should be anchored. This moment offers a critical opportunity for reform.
Let this serve as a sober warning to civil servants, political appointees, and public officers: falsifying one’s age is not just unethical—it is criminal. The consequences are not just career-ending; they are dignity-erasing.
Conclusion
The NJC has taken a laudable first step in sanitising the judiciary, but it must not stop there. All judges, regardless of rank, must be subject to age verification and disciplinary action. The Nigerian civil service, through the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation, must also implement a digital verification system to eliminate falsified records and restore credibility.
Nigeria cannot build strong institutions on the foundation of falsehood. Age falsification is an act of dishonour. It runs contrary to our religious tenets; it is nonsensical to claim that you are truly a child of God when you lie in public records. It is time to tell the truth, no matter how old it makes us.
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