NASS workers demand extension of retirement age to 65 years

National Assembly workers are pushing for an increase in their retirement age to 65 years or 40 years in service, deviating from the current federal civil service retirement age of 60 years or 35 years in service.

Sunday Sabiyi, Chairman of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, representing National Assembly workers, voiced this plea in Abuja on Thursday.

He urged the Senate to pass legislation to fulfill the workers’ requests, stressing the need for an extension due to a dearth of qualified staff in the Legislature.

Sabiyi underscored the impact of this scarcity on democracy, referencing past disruptions by Nigeria’s military.

He further explained that the limited number of trained officers in the legislature had been exacerbated by the Public Service Rule mandating retirement at 60 years of age or after 35 years of service.

This, he also explained, had created a vacuum and 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 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 8th Assembly, by resolution, passed the National Assembly Service Staff Regulations 2019 extending the retirement age for staff to 65 years of age or 40 years of service.

The harmonised retirement age for staff of both legislative houses was later introduced by the 9th House of Representatives, but was not passed.