National Assembly to Extend Retirement Age to 65 Years or 40 Years of Service

Workers at the National Assembly, represented by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, are advocating for an extension of their retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service, as opposed to the current federal civil service retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of service. The association argues that the extension is necessary due to a lack of qualified staff in the Legislature, attributed to past disruptions of democracy by Nigeria’s military.

The Senate recently rejected a bill seeking to extend the retirement age for National Assembly staff, citing concerns about career progression for junior staff and the employment of young Nigerians. The bill, if passed, would have affected over 200 workers scheduled to retire between 2024 and 2026, including the current Clerk, Sani Tambuwal.

The proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Make Provisions for the Retirement Age of Staff of National Assembly Service and for Other Related Matters, 2024,” has faced opposition in the Senate. However, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria has reiterated its support for the bill, highlighting the impact of instability on the career progression of its workers.

The association argues that the retirement age extension is consistent with international best practices and cites similar legislation for other sectors, such as the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which mandates retirement at 65 years or after 40 years of pensionable service.

Despite opposition from some staff, the association urges the Senate to pass the bill to address the shortage of qualified manpower in the Legislative Service and to maximize the knowledge and experience of existing staff. They believe that the bill’s passage would strengthen the legislature and bring it in line with global standards.

Vanguard News