Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have reiterated their support for the extension of their retirement age from 60 to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service.

The National Assembly arm of the body led by Mr Sunday Sabiyi in a statement called on the Senate exercise its legislative powers by passing the Harmonised Retirement Age for Staff of National Assembly Service in Nigeria Bill into Law.

The workers argued that the measure would stabilize and develop the capacity in the National Assembly Service, for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

They thereby urged the Senate to disregard the claims that the approval of the extension of their retirement age was in breach of extant provision of the law.

They argue that in view of the dearth of qualified staff in the Legislative Arm of Government due to the interruption of democracy in Nigeria, the Legislature which has always been the victim has been affected by instability in the career progression of its staff.

Justifying their position, they noted: “The few trained officers are also caught up with the Public Service Rules, thereby creating a vacuurn and shortage of qualified manpower in the Legislative Service.

“Hence, the need to increase the retirement age as proposed in the Bill to fill the vacuum and maximize the knowledge and experience acquired by the few staff and build the capacity of the young staff of the National Assembly Service in Nigeria

“Considering the importance of Legislative Service as a specialized Service globally, the passage of the Bill into Law will strengthen the legislature and bring it in conformity with international best practices as an Arm of Government as similar legislation is provided by other Arms of Government which includes:

” Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022 which provides that “Teachers in Nigeria shall compulsorily retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier”.

“Retirement age of Staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education (Harmonisation) Act, 2012 which provides that “Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Pensions Act, the compulsory retiring age of an academic staff of polytechnics and Colleges of Education shall be sixty-five years”.

“Universities Miscellaneous Provision (Amendment) Act, 2012, which provides for 70 years of retirement age for University Professors and 65 years for non-academic staff of Universities; and

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No. 37) Act, 2023. Which provides that- “a judicial officer appointed to any of the superior courts of record specified in section 6 (5) of the Constitution may retire when he attains the age of sixty-five years and he shall cease to hold office when he attains the age of seventy years.”