By Christiana Ekpa
The Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PSAN) has urged the National Assembly to pass the 65 years retirement age or 40 years of service into law.
Mr Sunday Sabiyi, the chairman of the association said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
He said that there was a dearth of qualified staff in the legislative arm of government due to the interruption of democracy in Nigeria.
He said, “the Legislature which has always been the victim has been affected by instability in the career progression of its staff.”
He said that 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 said that there was 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.
He said this would further build the capacity of the 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 urged the Senate to rightly exercise its legislative powers by passing the harmonised retirement age for ataff 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 added that it was also for fairness to the various arms of government in line with the doctrine of separation of powers.
Peoples Daily recalled that 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 Houses of Representatives but was not passed.
