President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has withheld his assent to a Bill seeking to extend the retirement age of legislative officers and other workers of the National Assembly. The Bill sought to extend the retirement age of National Assembly workers from 60 to 65 or from 35 to 40 years of service, whichever is earlier. The Bill, titled: “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for the retirement age for staff of the National Assembly and related matters went through a second reading in the House in October 2023,” was first introduced in the Seventh Assembly but failed to sail through and was reintroduced in the Eighth and Ninth Assembly, but also failed. The Bill was brought back to the 10th Assembly and sponsored by House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano). It scaled through the second reading in the House last October and was passed by the House on December 20, last year. Although the Senate initially rejected the Bill, it backtracked and passed it on March 31, 2024, transmitting it to the President for his assent. However opponents of the Bill averred that it would lead to stagnation through the ranks, while its supporters argued that it would promote efficiency and ensure that experience prevails. But in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary, President Tinubu said he had decided to withhold his assent to the Bill. The letter reads: “I write in respect of the harmonized retirement age for legislative officers of the National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Bill passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to me for assent. “Upon thorough examination and careful consultation, I have decided to withhold my assent to the Bill. “This decision is made following the powers vested in me by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “I wish to express my sincere appreciation of the diligent work of the Senate as regards the drafting and passage of this Bill. “However, I trust that this decision would be received with understanding and acceptance.” Post navigation President Tinubu pleads debt forgiveness for developing countries. “Tinubu Nigeria’s best listening president”.
