PASAN Urges NASS To Pass 65yrs Retirement Bill Into Law

The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, PASAN, has urged the National Assembly to pass the 65 years retirement age or 40 years of service into law.

In a statement in Abuja, the chairman of the association,
Mr Sunday Sabiyi, says there is a dearth of qualified staff in the legislative arm of government due to the interruption of democracy in Nigeria.

“the Legislature which has always been the victim has been affected by instability in the career progression of its staff” he said.

According to him, the few trained officers had also been caught up with the Public Service Rules, thereby creating a vacuum and shortage of qualified manpower in the legislative service.

He notes that there is a need to increase the retirement age as proposed in the Bill to fill the vacuum and maximise the knowledge and experience acquired by the few staff.

The PASAN Chairman says this will further build the capacity of young staff of the National Assembly Service in Nigeria.

“Considering the importance of legislative service as a specialised service globally, the passage of the Bill into Law will strengthen the legislature and bring it into conformity with international best practices”.

He urges the Senate to rightly exercise its legislative powers by passing the harmonised retirement age for staff of National Assembly Service in Nigeria Bill into Law.

This according to him is for the stabilisation and development of capacity in the national assembly service, for the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

He adds that it is also for fairness to the various arms of government in line with the doctrine of separation of powers.

“The 8th assembly by resolution passed the National Assembly Service Staff Regulations 2019 extending the retirement age for Staff of the NASS service to 65 years of age or 40 years of Service.

“The harmonised retirement age for staff of legislative houses in Nigeria Bill was later introduced by the 9th House of Representatives but was not passed, he said.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji