The controversial Bill to extend the retirement age of National Assembly staff to 65 years has resurfaced in the House of Representatives.
Recall that the Bill has faced previous Assemblies since the seventh 7th Assembly without success, while the 9th reintroduced the Bill on June 28, 2022.
The Bill, titled: A Bill for an Act to Make Provisions for the Retirement Age for Staff of National Assembly Service and for Related Matters, is sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Aliyu Madaki. It was considered and passed for the second reading during plenary session, in Abuja.
During the debate on the proposed legislation, Madaki explained that the Bill aimed to establish a unified retirement age for National Assembly staff and grant them independence. The proposed retirement age is set at 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.
Madaki argued that this extension would enhance the efficiency of the professionalised National Assembly staff.
In support of the Bill, Rep. the Minority Whip, Ali Isa, emphasised that it would preserve the specialised experience of National Assembly staff. He noted that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has also advocated for such an extension, which is already in practice in many countries.
Rep. Abdullahi Rasheed added that the Bill would boost the morale of National Assembly staff and enable them to meet the demands of their complex roles.
The Bill passed the second reading and was referred to the House committee on Public Service Matters.
According to observers, the Bill may lead to a parallel bureaucracy within the Public Service of the Federation and has faced opposition from NASS staff, who see it as a strategy to impede their career growth.
