President Bola Tinubu has declined to support a bill in the National Assembly that would raise the retirement age for federal officials.
Tinubu explained why he did not sign the law to the Senate President in a Tuesday letter.
According to reports, the Senate initially rejected the plan in early February after long debate but later reversed its decision and adopted a similar proposal from the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation aims to raise the retirement age to 65 or 40 years of service, whichever comes first. The current law sets a retirement age of 60 years or 35 years of service.
In his rejection, Tinubu thanked the Senate for its “diligent work” in developing and passing the bill.
Tinubu’s letter read, “I write in respect of the harmonised retirement age for legislative officers of the national assembly of the federal republic of Nigeria bill passed by the national assembly and forwarded to me for assent,” he said.
“Upon thorough examination and carefully consultation I have decided to withhold my assent to the bill.
“This decision is made in accordance with the powers vested in me by the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
“However, I trust that this decision would be recieved with understanding and acceptance.”
