The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to review the retirement age and years of service of civil servants in the entire public service to 65.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, made the call during the 2023 Workers’ Day celebrations held on Monday in Abuja.
Ajaero also called for a general review of the salaries of core civil servants to narrow the gap between their emoluments and those in other segments of the public service.
He noted that the extension of years of service should be applied across the board, as it has been done in other sectors of public service in the country.
“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,” Ajaero said.
He added that the union had been demanding a salary review for core civil servants over the years but had yet to receive the government’s attention. He said that all civil servants possess the same educational qualifications and cognate experience on the job, so why the disparity in their salaries?
On gratuity payment, the NLC president said union leaders had presented the issue to the government on several occasions without any positive response.
He noted that 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.
Ajaero added that the Pension Act did not abolish gratuity payment, and the union demands its restoration in many public sectors where it has been stopped. He explained that such a lump sum is meant to enable the retiree to finance any post-retirement endeavour of his/her choice.
“Fellow comrades, we have consistently presented the issue of gratuity payment to the government, but nothing has been done in that regard,” Ajaero said.
The labour leader called on the government to take action on the demands of the union and improve the welfare of civil servants in the country.
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