Nigeria Labour Congress Advocates for Extended Retirement Age as Talks with President Tinubu Loom

In an effort to address the growing concerns surrounding the retirement age of civil servants, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is preparing to hold discussions with President Bola Tinubu.

The NLC, led by National President Joe Ajaero, remains determined to push for an extension of the retirement age, a cause that was initiated during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

During the May Day celebrations in 2023, the NLC appealed to President Buhari to consider raising the retirement age for civil servants.

However, at the time, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of State for Labour, explained that the matter could not be addressed before the end of Buhari’s administration, indicating that it would fall to the incoming government to handle.

Notably, teachers employed by the government have already experienced the implementation of an increased retirement age. Consequently, the NLC is now determined to engage with President Tinubu on the matter, as only a few sectors, including the core civil service, are yet to benefit from such a policy.

“We are demanding that the retirement age and length of service for all public servants, including the civil service, be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service,” stated President Ajaero when asked about the potential meeting with President Tinubu.

Echoing this sentiment, Hakeem Ambali, the National Treasurer of the NLC, emphasized the necessity of negotiations to prevent a looming crisis for workers. Ambali expressed concerns about the non-remittance of Contributory Pension Deductions to workers’ Pension Fund Administrators by a significant number of employers, resulting in potential hardships and premature deaths among workers.

The proposed transition period of five years aims to normalize the system and alleviate these challenges.