President Bola Tinubu had addressed the issue by signing a Constitution Alteration Act on June 8, 2023, amending Section 291 of the Constitution to ensure uniformity in the retirement age and pension rights of judicial officers.
The Act harmonizes the retirement age of judicial officers at 70 years and reduces the required service period for pension eligibility from 15 to 10 years.
The Nigerian Senate recently passed a bill to increase the retirement age for civil servants in the National Assembly to 65 years or 40 years of service. Initiated by the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), the bill aims to retain experienced officers and build the capacity of younger employees. PASAN Chairman Sunday Sabiyi expects the bill to be signed into law by President Tinubu soon.
Mr. David Adebayo and Ms. Ngozi Chinedu exemplifies the divergent experiences of Nigerian retirees based on their career paths. Adebayo, a senior administrative officer in the public sector, dedicated 35 years to civil service, retiring at 60 as mandated by government regulations.
In contrast, Ms Chinedu, a senior marketing executive at a multinational corporation, retired at 65, benefiting from the stability and perks of the private sector.
Mr Adebayo's post-retirement life has been challenging. His pension is often delayed and not adjusted for inflation, making it insufficient for a comfortable life.
Additionally, losing employer-sponsored health insurance forced him to rely on the National Health Insurance Scheme, which barely covers basic healthcare needs. The financial strain and inadequate healthcare support have negatively impacted his well-being.
Conversely, Ms Chinedu's extended working years allowed her to amass a larger pension fund, ensuring financial security. Her private health insurance continued into her retirement, providing comprehensive coverage.
The extended work period also meant a better work-life balance, professional growth, and substantial earnings, leading to a more fulfilling retirement.
The disparities in their retirement experiences highlight the impact of varying retirement ages in Nigeria. Stakeholders are increasingly urging the federal government to review and harmonize the retirement age for all public servants. Public analysts argue that inconsistent retirement policies are discriminatory, counter-productive, and detrimental to morale.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has been vocal in demanding an increase in the retirement age and length of service to 65 years and 40 years, respectively, for all public servants.
Joe Ajaero NLC President reiterated this demand during the 2023 and 2024 May Day celebrations, emphasizing the need for uniformity across all sectors.
Supporting this view, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) advocates for an immediate review of the retirement age for civil servants. PLAC argues that this would improve pension administration and welfare for core civil servants, including judicial officers and public servants in various sectors.
In response to these calls, former President Muhammadu Buhari, on May 12, 2021, approved the increase of the retirement age for health sector workers from 60 to 65, and for consultants from 65 to 70. In 2022, he signed a law increasing the retirement age for primary school teachers to 65, a policy now implemented by 15 state governments.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) also calls for an upward review of the retirement age for core civil service employees. ASCSN Secretary-General Joshua Apebo urges the trade union movement to ensure uniformity in retirement age across the public service.
Public affairs analyst Dr. Gboyega Daniel highlights the discrepancies in retirement ages in Nigeria, calling for immediate policy reforms. He argues that varied retirement ages create perceptions of inequality, strain the pension system, and affect service morale and productivity. Daniel suggests legislative actions to establish unified retirement ages across all sectors.
The debate on retirement age is not limited to Nigeria. Dr. Tunde Balogun, a UK-based Nigerian, notes that the UK government is considering raising the retirement age of public servants from 60 to 68 years, with many EU member states already planning to increase the retirement age to 67.
Experts advocate for reviewing the retirement age to 65 years and 40 years of service for core civil servants, and harmonizing discrepancies across the board. Although critics argue that such a policy could hinder career progression for younger employees and affect new hires, proponents believe the benefits of experience, expertise, fairness, and sustainability far outweigh the drawbacks.
They urge the government to demonstrate sincerity and adopt a holistic approach to address this issue.
