By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu yesterday rejected a bill seeking to increase the retirement age of civil servants working in the National Assembly by five more years.
A letter from Senate President Godswill Akpabio during plenary revealed Tinubu’s decision not to withhold his assent to the bill.
The President did not give reasons for his decision.
It will be recalled that the Senate threw out the bill after a heated debate.
However, the Red Chamber changed its mind later and concurred with a similar bill passed by the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to increase the retirement age to 65 or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.
The existing law prescribes 60 years of age or 35 years of service for retirement.
Tinubu commended the Senate for its “diligent work” in drafting and passing the bill.
Part of the President’s letter read, “I write concerning 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 will be received with understanding and acceptance.
“I write in respect to 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 in accordance with 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 regarding the drafting and passage of this bill. However, I trust that this decision would be received with understanding and acceptance.”
