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Civil society groups are pushing back against the Nigerian Senate after lawmakers approved a new lottery bill in defiance of a Supreme Court ruling.
The Nigerian Senate lottery bill, known as the Central Gaming Bill 2025, seeks to create a single national framework for lottery and online gaming. It cleared the House of Representatives earlier this year and won Senate concurrence on October 8, 2025. But the move has triggered political and legal backlash from civil society organisations and state officials who say the legislation oversteps federal authority.
Coalition calls bill unconstitutional
The criticism centres on claims that the new bill violates Nigeria’s constitutional division of powers.
The Coalition for Good Governance (CGG), a network of civil society organisations, described the Senate’s approval as an act of defiance against the judiciary.
Speaking to reporters in Lagos, CGG convener Nelson Ekujumi said:
“The passage of this bill constitutes a threat to national security and the constitution.”
He cited the Supreme Court’s November 22, 2024, ruling in the case of Attorney General of Lagos State & 22 Others v. Attorney General of the Federation, which affirmed that lottery and gaming activities fall exclusively under state jurisdiction. The court ruled that the National Assembly lacks the authority to legislate on lotteries outside the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
States warn of renewed legal battles
The controversy has reignited long-standing tensions between state and federal regulators.
Lagos Attorney General Lawal Pedro also condemned the bill during a press briefing on October 15, calling it “unconstitutional and contrary to the Supreme Court’s decision.”
He added that:
“Once the Supreme Court has spoken on a constitutional issue, its decision is final and binding on all authorities and persons in Nigeria, including the Executive and Legislature.”
The dispute traces back to a 2008 lawsuit brought by Lagos and 22 other states against the federal government, challenging its control over lottery operations. The Supreme Court’s 2024 judgment settled the issue, declaring the National Lottery Act 2005 unconstitutional because lotteries fall under state legislative powers.
Nigerian Senate lottery bill reignites regulatory conflict
Despite the ruling, the new bill attempts to reintroduce federal oversight, a move that many see as a step backwards.
The CGG urged the House of Representatives to apologise for initiating the legislation and called on the Senate to withdraw its concurrence to “restore legislative credibility.”
Observers warn that the new bill could lead to fresh legal battles between the federal government and states such as Lagos, which operates its own lotteries and enforces independent gaming laws.
The debate highlights a deep divide over how Nigeria’s gaming market should be governed.
As calls for the Senate to retract the bill grow louder, the question remains: will lawmakers respect the Supreme Court’s ruling or push ahead with a federal framework that could spark another constitutional crisis?
Source: Focus Gaming News
