The National Assembly’s workforce wants their retirement to be increased to 65 years old or 40 years of service. In the federal civil service, the retirement age is 35 years of service or 60 years of age, whichever comes first.
The National Assembly workers’ umbrella organization, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, led by Sunday Sabiyi, pleaded with the Senate on Thursday in Abuja to enact the workers’ demand. According to him, it was necessary to raise the retirement age or number of service years since the Nigerian military’s disruption of democracy had left the Legislature short-staffed with qualified personnel.
“The Legislature, which has always been the victim in the event of military takeover of government, has been affected by instability in the career progression of its workers,’’ he added.
Sabiyi explained that the number of trained officers in the Legislature had been further depleted by the Public Service Rule of 60 years of age or 35 years of service.
This, he also explained, had created a vacuum and a shortage of qualified manpower in the legislative service.
He stressed that there was a need to extend National Assembly workers’ retirement age as proposed in a bill before the National Assembly to maximise the knowledge and experience of the few trained staff.
Sabiyi stated that the extension of the retirement age would also build the capacity of young employees of the National Assembly Service.
“Considering the importance of legislative service as a specialised service globally, the passage of the bill into law will strengthen the legislature and bring it into conformity with international best practices,’’ he stressed.
He urged the Senate to rightly exercise its legislative powers by passing the harmonised retirement age for staff of National Assembly Service in Nigeria Bill into law.
This, according to him, is for the stabilisation and development of capacity at the National Assembly service for the sustenance of democracy.
Sabiyi added that it was also for fairness at the various arms of government, in line with the doctrine of separation of powers.
The National Assembly Service Staff Regulations 2019 were enacted by the 8th Assembly through a resolution, raising the retirement age for staff members to 65 years old or 40 years of service. The 9th House of Representatives later proposed and failed to enact a unified retirement age for staff members of both legislative bodies.
