During the 2024 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square in Abuja, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, renewed calls for a nationwide policy shift regarding the retirement age of civil servants. Ajaero urged the federal government to standardize the retirement criteria across all sectors by increasing the age limit to 65 years or 40 years of service, mirroring what is already in place for certain professions, such as teachers, healthcare workers, and judicial officers.

Ajaero emphasized that the current disparity in retirement conditions among different sectors of the civil service fosters inequality and low morale. By extending these improved terms to all public servants, he argued, the government would not only promote fairness but also enhance productivity and commitment across the workforce. According to him, the benefits already afforded to some sectors should be seen as a benchmark rather than an exception, and civil servants in all categories deserve the same consideration.

This is not the first time the issue of retirement age has surfaced in public discourse. The federal government last made notable adjustments to retirement policy in 2021, when it approved the extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years and their years of service from 35 to 40 years. A similar change was later applied to some healthcare workers and judicial officers, sparking widespread calls for the same treatment to be extended to the broader civil service.

The NLC’s renewed push reflects ongoing concerns about equity in public service policies and the need for inclusive reforms that acknowledge the contributions of all workers, regardless of sector.