In a landmark ruling on Friday, the Supreme Court nullified the National Lottery Act of 2005, declaring that the National Assembly lacks the authority to legislate on matters relating to lotteries and games of chance.
The seven-member panel of Justices, led by Justice Mohammed Idris, unanimously ruled that such legislative powers are exclusively reserved for state Houses of Assembly under the Nigerian Constitution.
The court clarified that the National Assembly’s jurisdiction is limited to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in this regard.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Idris emphasized that the Constitution grants states full control over issues of lottery and similar activities within their jurisdictions.
Consequently, the National Lottery Act will no longer be applicable in any state outside the FCT.
The verdict stemmed from a legal challenge initiated in 2008 by Lagos State and several other states. They contested the Federal Government’s authority to regulate lotteries and games of chance nationwide.
The plaintiffs argued that such powers encroached upon the constitutional rights of states, a position the Supreme Court has now upheld.
The judgment is expected to have significant implications for the lottery and gaming industry in Nigeria.
By devolving regulatory authority to the states, it reinforces the federal structure of governance and grants individual states the autonomy to craft laws and policies that suit their specific circumstances.
The ruling effectively ends years of legal uncertainty and sets a precedent for resolving disputes over the extent of federal and state legislative powers.
For stakeholders in the lottery and gaming sector, this decision marks the beginning of a new era of state-led regulation and oversight
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