The House of Representatives has tasked its committees on public service matters and legislative compliance to probe the revised section 8 (020819) of the government policy mandating compulsory retirement for public servants who have served eight years as directors in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
This decision follows a motion sponsored by House Leader Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere, Minority Leader Hon. Kingsley Chinda, and Hon. Ishaya Lalu.
Presenting the motion, the Minority Leader highlighted a government circular dated July 27, 2023, with reference No. HCSF/SPO/268/T3/2/37, titled “The Revised Public Service Rules (PSR),” issued by the Head of Service. The circular directs public servants to adhere to Section 8 (020810) (iv) (a) of the 2021 Public Service Rules, which mandates compulsory retirement for directors after eight years, regardless of whether they have reached the age of 60 or have served 35 years.
The Minority Leader expressed concerns that this policy conflicts with the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022. He pointed out that some teachers, who are public servants and serve as directors in the Federal Ministry of Education, would be adversely affected by this rule. “It is counterproductive for directors to be compulsorily retired after eight years in office when they have not yet reached the retirement age,” he argued.
He emphasized the scarcity of experienced, trained, and intellectually capable public servants at grade level 17, who occupy director positions across various MDAs. These directors, he noted, have attained their roles through years of hard work, dedication, and skill development, often involving both local and international training funded by Nigerian resources.
The Minority Leader warned that the compulsory retirement of directors who have not yet reached the age of 60 or completed 35 years of service would deprive the nation of their valuable experience, creativity, expertise, innovation, and transformative ideas, ultimately negatively impacting public service productivity and the economy.
He also highlighted the potential dire consequences of not complying with the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which sets the retirement age for teachers at 60 or 35 years of service. This noncompliance, he argued, could have serious implications for the public service sector.
The House has thus directed its committees to investigate the policy and its implications, ensuring that it does not conflict with existing laws or negatively impact the public service.
