Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, representing workers at the National Assembly, are advocating for an extension of the retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service. Currently, the retirement age in the federal civil service stands at 60 years or after 35 years of service, whichever comes first.
In a statement released on Thursday by the Association’s Chairman, Sunday Sabiyi, the group urged the Senate to pass their demand into law. They argued that extending the number of service years or retirement age is necessary due to a shortage of qualified staff in the Legislature, a consequence of Nigeria’s history of military interruptions in democracy.
Last week, the Senate rejected a contentious retirement bill proposing to extend the retirement age for National Assembly staff to 65 years or after 40 years of service. This bill also aimed to apply to staff across the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
The majority of Senators vehemently opposed the bill during discussions, fearing it would impede the career progression of junior staff and hinder the employment of young Nigerians. Consequently, the Senate was compelled to shelve the bill.
If passed, the bill would have benefited over 200 workers set to retire between 2024 and 2026, with the current Clerk, Sani Tambuwal, potentially being the first beneficiary.