…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari will not approve the proposed increase in retirement age for workers in Nigeria.
This statement comes in response to the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, who called for a fresh retirement age for civil servants during the recent Workers’ Day celebrations in Abuja.
Ajaero also urged for a general review of core civil servants’ salaries to bridge the gap with other segments of the public service.
Keyamo States the Decision Rests with the Next Administration
In an interview with The PUNCH, Minister Keyamo expressed that any decision to increase the retirement age to 65 years would be left to the next administration.
He explained that the process of implementing such a change, if accepted by the Federal Government, cannot be completed within President Buhari’s tenure.
Therefore, the responsibility to address this matter will fall upon the incoming administration.
Conclusion:
Minister Festus Keyamo has conveyed President Buhari’s stance on the proposed increase in retirement age for workers in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Labour Congress has called for an extension of retirement age to 65 years, along with a salary review for civil servants.
However, Minister Keyamo clarified that the decision regarding these matters will be left to the next administration, as the process of implementing such changes cannot be completed before the end of President Buhari’s tenure.
The incoming administration, led by President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be tasked with addressing these proposals and determining the future direction of retirement age and service years for Nigerian workers.