Workers on a rally
Hours after the organised Labour demanded 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, Political Economist NG reports a widespread support for the proposal by workers.
Recall that both the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrades Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo had during the May Day celebration held at the Eagles Square Abuja on Thursday made the demand to President Bola Tinubu.
Workers spoken to by Political Economist NG in different states said they support the age and service years proposal by Labour because it will help to keep both experience and competence longer in the service.
“Many people are very active at 60 and asking such people to retire on account of age is not good for the public service because it robs the service of their experience. And extra 5 years is ideal because some persons are still active even at 70,” said Aliyu Garba, a civil servant based in Abuja.
Garba said “this is the best idea Labour is putting forward and I would like President Tinubu to heed this call because this is the sentiment among civil servants. We retire too early in this country”, he told Political Economist NG.
Other respondents in Lagos, Kano, Rivers also showed their backing for the new age proposal, pleading that retiring civil servants at 60 pushes some of them to inactivity which results in sickness and eventually death.
Political Economist NG reports that besides the age request, the organised labour also asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately reverse what it describes as the unconstitutional suspension of the elected government of Rivers State via a state of emergency.
The labour leaders urged the Federal and state governments to cease actions that erode the civic space and deepen it for the sake of the nation.
It demanded democratic accountability, built on transparent governance, electoral reforms, and an end to the suppression of dissent.
Labour urged the Federal Government to end what it calls the genocidal killings and bloodletting across the country, saying the number one duty of the government is ensuring the safety of lives and property of the citizens.
On the tax bills before the National Assembly, the organised labour called for their withdrawal to allow Nigerian workers to sit at the table where it is being conceived.
According to the organised labour, the tax bills, crafted without the input of the NLC and the TUC, impose a burden on workers while letting the rich and corporations off the hook.
On the hike in the telecommunication tariff, the labour demanded an immediate reduction from 50 percent to 35 percent.
