The Plateau State Judiciary has increased the monetary jurisdiction of its small claims courts to ₦5 million in a move aimed at accelerating debt recovery, reducing delays in commercial disputes and improving access to justice.
The Chief Judge of the state, Justice David Mann, announced the expansion on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during the opening of a two-day capacity-building workshop for judicial officers and court personnel in Jos.
Mann said the adjustment, approved under Section 17 of the District Courts Law, was designed to provide businesses and individuals with a more affordable and accessible channel for resolving commercial disputes, particularly claims involving outstanding debts.
He urged district court judges to implement the expanded jurisdiction effectively and ensure that cases were handled promptly without compromising fairness and judicial integrity.
The Chief Judge stressed that an efficient justice system was essential to economic growth, noting that businesses and investors needed confidence that contractual obligations would be honoured and disputes resolved without unnecessary delays.
He warned that the delivery of judgments alone was not enough if court decisions were not enforced.
According to him, an unenforced judgment undermines the purpose of justice and weakens public confidence in the judicial system.
“Efficiency must never compromise integrity. Speed without fairness is not justice,” he said.
Mann explained that the small claims procedure was introduced to reduce the cost and delays associated with conventional litigation, especially in commercial transactions and debt recovery matters.
He said the expanded ₦5 million limit would allow more eligible claims to be handled through the simplified process, easing the burden on litigants and the courts.
Small claims cases expected to conclude within 60 days
Speaking after the workshop’s opening, the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of Magistrates and the judiciary’s focal person for the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), Deborah Nya, said the partnership between the programme and the Plateau Judiciary had strengthened the small claims system.
She explained that while conventional court proceedings could take up to six months, cases filed under the small claims procedure were expected to be concluded within 60 days.
Nya said the time-bound process had improved confidence among business owners seeking to resolve disputes with customers and business partners.
She, however, identified inadequate public awareness as a major challenge, noting that many potential litigants were still unaware of the existence of small claims courts and the simplified procedure available to them.
She said magistrates had continued to sensitise lawyers, litigants and other court users on the benefits of the system and the new monetary threshold.
The two-day workshop was organised under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms, a $750 million World Bank-funded programme designed to improve the business environment across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The programme is implemented through a partnership involving the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council Secretariat, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
The training brought together magistrates, registrars, bailiffs and other judicial personnel. Discussions focused on small claims debt recovery procedures, case management, documentation, mediation, arbitration and legal reforms affecting businesses.
Mann also urged judicial administrators to improve transparency, accountability and administrative efficiency while embracing technology in court operations.
He called on participants selected as step-down trainers to share the knowledge acquired with colleagues in their respective judicial stations.
The Chief Judge said sustaining the reforms was important, particularly as the institutional development project was expected to close in mid-2027.
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