The House of Representatives has moved to increase the retirement age of health workers in Nigeria to sixty-five years.
This was sequel to the Passage Of “A Bill For An Act To Make Provisions For The Retirement Age For Health Workers In Nigeria; And For Related Matters”, sponsored by Dr. Adewale Hammed.
He said the Bill has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare sector in Nigeria as it seeks to make provisions for the compulsory retirement age and years of service for Health Workers in Nigeria.
Recall that the Harmonised Retirement Age for Health Workers in Nigeria Bill, 2024 was read for the first time as House Bill 1577, on Thursday, 10th October 2024.
According to the sponsor of the bill, he said “increasing the retirement age will retain experienced healthcare workers, allowing them to continue contributing their expertise to the sector, this is particularly important at this time when the healthcare delivery system faces significant challenges especially a shortage of skilled professionals.
“Nigeria’s healthcare sector is currently experiencing a significant depletion in both the number and quality of professionals due to two main factors. Firstly, a substantial number of health workers are migrating abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece- a trend difficult to stop given the fundamental human rights of the individuals concerned. Secondly, the compulsory retirement age of 60 and the mandatory 35 years of service, as stipulated in the public service rules, are contributing to the exodus of experienced professionals. While we cannot control the former, the latter can be addressed through the upward review of the retirement age which will be achieved by this Bill.
“We have precedence for such measures, as the federal government has previously reviewed upward, the retirement age for certain categories of public servants, including judges, lecturers, and teachers. My respected Colleagues will recall that in May 2021, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment reached an agreement with stakeholders in the health sector to increase the retirement age for health workers from 60 to 65 years, hence the need to back the agreement with legislation.”
Clause 2 and 3
” Essentially, clauses 2 and 3 of the Bill provide for
i. “(2) Health Workers in Nigeria shall compulsorily retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.”
ii. “(3) Any law or the Public Service Rules requiring a person to retire from the Public Service at 60 years of age or after 35 years of service shall not apply to Health Workers in Nigeria,” the bill said.
The lawmaker added that the legislation that seeks to make provisions for the compulsory retirement age and years of service for Health Workers in Nigeria is a well-thought-out initiative that addresses the needs of the healthcare sector.
He appealed to his colleagues to support the bill, which has the potential to transform the lives of millions of Nigerians and contribute to the country’s economic growth be read the Second Time.
The House unanimously adopted the bill and referred it to the Committee on Health Services for further legislative actions.
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