The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has renewed its call for an extension of the retirement age for all civil servants across the country.
Speaking at the Workers’ Day celebration on Thursday, May 1, at Eagle Square in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the current retirement policy should not apply selectively. He urged the federal government to make it universal.
“It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants,” Ajaero said during his address to a crowd of workers and government officials.
This isn’t the first time the NLC has pushed for the change. In 2023, Ajaero told said that the union was committed to engaging President Bola Tinubu to make the policy a reality for every public worker.
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Currently, teachers at all levels are already benefiting from the 65-year retirement age after former President Muhammadu Buhari signed it into law. Health professionals and judges also enjoy similar extensions.
But Ajaero believes all public servants deserve equal treatment, especially as they continue to serve the nation with dedication and often under challenging conditions.
The NLC’s demand was one of several raised during the May Day event, where workers gathered to reflect on their welfare, rights, and expectations from the government.
More updates on the union’s negotiation efforts are expected in the coming weeks.