Tinubu scuttles bill to raise retirement age of N’Assembly staff members

President Bola Tinubu has thrown out a bill seeking to raise the retirement age of civil servants working in the National Assembly.

He said his decision was a product of thorough exmination of the bill and careful consultations.

The position of President Tinubu was contained in a letter on Tuesday to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill’s Akpabio.

The bill seeks to increase the retirement age to 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.

The existing law prescribes 60 years of age or 35 years of service for retirement.

Tinubu, while rejecting it, commended the Senate for the “diligent work” it put into drafting and passing the bill.

He said in the letter: “I write in respect of the harmonised 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 by the powers vested in me by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“However, I trust that this decision would be received with understanding and acceptance.”