The move by the Senate to give its assent to a bill to extend the retirement age for civil servants in the National Assembly and across the State Parliament is already creating disaffection.
The Bill waiting for the Concurrence of the Red Chamber, tagged ” Harmonised Retirement Age for Staff of the National Assembly Bill 2022, was listed in the Order Paper for mention on Wednesday but stepped down by the Senate.
The controversial bill was passed last December by the House of Representatives.
If it enjoys the concurrence of the Senate and consequently passes into law, it will extend the retirement age of the staff of the National Assembly Service from 60 to 65 years of age and years of service from 35 to 40.
Checks revealed that attempts had been made by the two chambers in the recent past to extend the retirement age of the members of staff of the National Assembly since 2017.
It has, however, met with stiff resistance from the staff of the National Assembly.
Operating under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), the Union alleged that the sitting Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal Magaji, who joined the National Assembly Service in April 1990 (34 years ago), would be among the beneficiaries.
The Union expressed concern that the management of the National Assembly was not giving priority to the full implementation of the welfare and allowance packages as contained in the service’s Conditions of Service.
According to a source, “If the bill scales through, Sani Tambawal Magaji will remain in office until he’s 65 and 40 years old.”
The workers’ union also argued that the bill would allow the Clerk to the National Assembly and the management team to perpetuate themselves in office for another 5 years after they are due to retire from service.
The Union also argued that the controversial bill, if passed, would bring stagnation to the career progression of its members as it would serve only the interests of the management staff, especially those who are due for retirement from service.
PASAN further argued that the passage of the bill contravenes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and runs contrary to the Federal Government policy on youth development and empowerment.
The Union, in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, denounced the bill and threatened industrial action should the legislators go ahead and pass it.
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