On harmonised retirement age for legislative staff

Nowinta Igbotako

WHEN the Bill titled ‘Harmonized Retirement Age of Staff of Legislative Houses in Nigeria, 2021” sailed through the first reading in the House of Representatives on June 29th, 2021, the stability of the legislature came into focus. Recently, the same bill passed second reading, and the next stage now is for stakeholders to make their inputs into it. Talking of stakeholders, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria PASAN and the various state Houses of Assembly must make their much expected contributions. It is heartwarming that the PASAN national and state chapters are working round the clock on this fantastic bill that will act as a great stabilising agent for the staff of the legislature all over the Federation. In sponsoring this long-awaited bill, the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguni, has written his name in gold. According to him, the bill seeks to ensure professionalism and the transfer of knowledge and experience by top level management staff who are on the verge of exiting the system. The legislative arm of government needs stability to carry out its constitutional duties to the electorate in Nigeria.

There is no doubt that the legislature requires strong capacity and robust knowledge to pilot and stabilise its bureaucratic system. Strengthening the bureaucracy of the legislative houses in Nigeria means building institutional memory and developing career progression plan of the staff. As a mass-based public institution, and the closest to the people, the legislature is undoubtedly the first point of call for citizens. Therefore, there is a need for modest improvement in the condition of service of staff. The legislature is not only very important in institutionalising democracy and good governance, it is indeed the bedrock of any democracy and a critical factor in its development and sustenance. Because the legislature also performs vital and valuable roles in the affairs of a democracy, as the institution that links the government with the governed, this recent bill seeking to raise the retirement age of legislative staff from 60 to 65 years, and years of service from 40 to 45 years, as against the usual service years of 40 years, is a welcome development.

We must not forget that the legislature handles several other duties, apart from lawmaking. This crucial arm of government scrutinises government actions, ranging from approval of government appointments to investigations and supervisory activities (oversight). The legislature debates issues of national and public interest; passes resolutions for appropriate action of the executive arm of government, and also has responsibility to propose changes to the country’s constitution etc. Looking at these catalogue of responsibilities that are at the door steps of the legislature, it is only wise and proper that the bill being sponsored by the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mohammed Tahir Monguno, be supported by all and sundry. The Acting National President of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Comrade Tommy Etim Okon, in a media chat, said that the organisation was already pushing the issue of upward review of age of service for civil servants from 60 to 65, and years of service from 40 to 45 years.

Comrade Okon cited the need to approve a restoration of leave policy for directors and permanent secretaries, also mentioned general upward review of the salaries of civil servants, as well as other labour-related demands, in order to uplift them from the current excruciating economic situation in the country. It is heartwarming that President Muhammadu Buhari, who had in October 2020, during the World Teacher’s Day, approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for teachers, recently, via an Executive Bill he sent to the Senate, sought to change years of service for teachers from 35 years to 40 years, and retirement age from 60 to 65 years. The above coming from the president is commendable given the intellectualism naturally associated with teachers. Going forward on and given the multi-purpose functions of the legislature in Nigeria, it is only normal, fit and proper that this bill seeking tenure elongation for legislative staff in Nigeria be given the urgency and priority it deserves. The five-year extension of service for legislative staff in Nigeria is the only avenue to guarantee transfer of practical experience and knowledge by the top echelon of staff,who are on their way out of service. To pilot the affairs of the National Assembly, for instance, requires strong capacity building and knowledge-driven mechanism cum initiatives, instead of hiring retired staff as consultants. It is only tenure elongation, according to the Monguno bill, that will eliminate unnecessary additional cost and burden. No doubt, the bill will, when it becomes law, serves as a morale booster to legislative staff across the country. Finally, having looked at the bill from many angles and parameters, it is very clear that when it eventually becomes law, the legislature in Nigeria will be entering a new chapter, in which the inherent intellectual capacity of its staff will be exhaustively tapped to the fullest. And at the end of the day, the people of Nigeria, the electorate, will be the better for it. This is the essence of representative democracy.