The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded that the public service as a whole revise the retirement age and years of service requirements to 65 years.
The request was made by NLC President Joe Ajaero at the Abuja Workers’ Day celebration in 2023.
Ajaero highlighted that all public service sectors should implement the extension of years of service, just as it has done in other areas of the nation’s public service.
To close the pay disparity between other civil officials and those in other parts of the public service, he also called for a general review of core civil worker salaries.
Ajaero’s words:” Only a few other establishments, including the core civil service, are now left out. We are, therefore, demanding that the age of retirement and length of service in the entire public service, including the civil service, be reviewed upward to 65 years of age and 40 years of service.”
He added: “Fellow comrades, we have consistently presented the issue of gratuity payment to the government, but nothing has been done in that regard. As you are all aware, the concept of gratuity payment to employees is predicated on the fact that those who have laboured for public institutions or private enterprises are entitled to the proverbial golden handshake from their employers.”
According to Ajaero, a gratuity payment is a monetary benefit provided by an employer to a worker upon retirement without the worker making any kind of financial contribution to the fund. This lump amount is intended to give the retiree the freedom to finance any post-retirement venture of his or her own.
