President Bola Tinubu has declined to approve a bill that sought to extend the retirement age of civil servants working in the National Assembly by an additional five years.
This development was revealed in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Although President Tinubu commended the National Assembly for its efforts in drafting the bill, he did not provide specific reasons for withholding his assent.
Advertorial
The bill, originally passed by the House of Representatives and later concurred by the Senate, proposed raising the retirement age for National Assembly staff to 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever came first.
Currently, the law mandates retirement at 60 years of age or after 35 years of service.
The President’s decision follows a prior debate in the Senate, during which the bill was initially rejected before the chamber eventually reversed its stance to align with the House’s position.
Advertorial
In his letter to the Senate, President Tinubu explained that his decision was based on thorough examination and consultation, emphasizing that the choice was made within his constitutional powers.
He expressed hope that the National Assembly would accept and understand his decision.
“I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the diligent work of the Senate in drafting and passing the bill. However, after careful consideration, I have decided to withhold my assent, in line with the authority granted to me by the Constitution,” the letter stated.
Advertorial
