NLC, TUC Canvass Increase in Retirement Age to 65 or 40 Years of Service
The organised labour in Nigeria has called for an upward review of the retirement age and service years of all public and civil servants from 60 years to 65 years and from 35 years to 40 years respectively.
This demand was made by the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) during the May Day celebration held at the Eagles Square in Abuja on Thursday.
The President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart in the TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo, presented the demands to the federal government, citing the need to ensure that Nigerian workers are able to work for a longer period and enjoy the benefits of their hard work.
The labour leaders argued that the current retirement age of 60 years and service years of 35 years are no longer tenable, given the current economic realities and the need to ensure that workers are able to save enough for their retirement.
The May Day celebration, which is an annual event to commemorate the struggles and achievements of workers worldwide, was attended by thousands of workers from various sectors, including the public and private sectors.
The event was also attended by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by a high-ranking government official.
In his address, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers, promising to work closely with the labour unions to address the challenges facing workers in the country.
He acknowledged the importance of workers to the development of the nation and pledged to do everything possible to ensure that their rights and interests are protected.
The labour unions also used the occasion to demand better working conditions, improved salaries and benefits, and an end to the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
They also called on the government to take concrete steps to address the issue of unemployment, which has become a major challenge facing the country.
The demand for an upward review of the retirement age and service years is seen as a major issue that will require careful consideration by the federal government.
While the labour unions argue that it will help to ensure that workers are able to work for a longer period and enjoy the benefits of their hard work, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the economy and the pension system.
The labour unions have vowed to continue to push for the interests of Nigerian workers, using all available channels to ensure that their demands are met. With the May Day celebration providing a platform for workers to air their grievances and make their demands known, it remains to be seen how the federal government will respond to the call for an upward review of the retirement age and service years.
The labour unions have given the government an ultimatum to address their demands, threatening to embark on industrial action if their demands are not met. As the clock ticks, Nigerians are waiting with bated breath to see how the situation will unfold, and whether the government will yield to the demands of the labour unions.
