Abuja: The House of Representatives has initiated a legislative measure to increase the retirement age of health workers in Nigeria to sixty-five years. This move follows the passage of ‘A Bill For An Act To Make Provisions For The Retirement Age For Health Workers In Nigeria; And For Related Matters’, which was sponsored by Dr. Adewale Hammed.
According to Voice of Nigeria, the sponsor of the bill emphasized that its implementation could significantly impact the healthcare sector in Nigeria. The bill aims to set a compulsory retirement age and years of service for health workers, potentially retaining experienced professionals who can continue to contribute their expertise. This legislative action comes at a crucial time when the healthcare delivery system is grappling with challenges, particularly a shortage of skilled professionals.
Dr. Hammed highlighted two primary reasons for the current depletion of healthcare professionals in Nigeria: the migration of health workers seeking better opportunities abro
ad and the existing retirement age of 60 years with a mandatory 35 years of service as stipulated in public service rules. While the migration trend is challenging to control due to individual rights, the bill seeks to address the retirement age issue by proposing an upward review.
The bill has precedent, as the federal government has previously adjusted retirement ages for other public service categories, such as judges, lecturers, and teachers. In May 2021, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment reached an agreement with health sector stakeholders to increase the retirement age for health workers from 60 to 65 years, necessitating legislative backing.
Key clauses in the bill include provisions for compulsory retirement at 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first, and the exclusion of health workers from existing public service retirement rules. Dr. Hammed urged his colleagues to support the bill, highlighting its potential to transform healthcare in Nigeria and cont
ribute to economic growth.
The House unanimously adopted the bill and has referred it to the Committee on Health Services for further legislative action.