On Tuesday, September 24, President Bola Tinubu announced that he will not sign a bill that aimed to raise the retirement age for civil servants working in the National Assembly.
In a letter to the Senate President, Tinubu explained his reasons for rejecting the bill. Earlier this year, in February, the Senate had decided not to move forward with a similar proposal, but later changed its mind and agreed with a version passed by the House of Representatives.
The proposed bill wanted to increase the retirement age to 65 years or after 40 years of service—whichever came first. Currently, the rules say that staff must retire at 60 years old or after 35 years of service.
While he did not approve the bill, Tinubu praised the Senate for their hard work in drafting and discussing it. He stated, “Upon thorough examination and careful consultation, I have decided to withhold my assent to the bill. This decision is made by the powers vested in me by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Tinubu added, “However, I trust that this decision would be received with understanding and acceptance.”
