President Bola Tinubu has declined to extend the retirement age of National Assembly staff from 60 to 65 years, effectively withholding his assent to the Harmonized Retirement Age for Legislative Officers of the National Assembly Bill ¹ ². The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, aimed to increase the retirement age or years of service from 35 to 40 years, citing the need to preserve institutional memory ². However, it faced opposition from several senators, including Enyinnaya Abaribe and Ali Ndume.
In a letter to lawmakers, read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu explained that his decision was made after thorough examination and consultation, exercising his constitutional powers ¹ ². He appreciated the Senate’s diligence in drafting and passing the bill but trusts that his decision will be accepted with understanding.
The bill’s journey was marked by controversy, initially rejected by the Senate before being reconsidered and passed, and also criticized by groups like the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) ².
