The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to adopt a uniform retirement policy of 65 years of age or 35 years of service for all civil servants, warning that existing disparities are undermining efficiency in the public sector.
President of the union, Festus Osifo, made the call on Friday during the 2026 May Day celebration in Abuja, where he criticised the current retirement structure as discriminatory and counter-productive to national development.
Osifo said the variation in retirement policies across sectors within the civil service had created inequity and weakened institutional capacity.
He said, “The current disparities in retirement policies are discriminatory and counter-productive to national development. Existing retirement rules in the civil service are unfair and hinder national progress. Unequal retirement policies undermine fairness and weaken the efficiency of the public service.”
The labour leader argued that extending the retirement age would enable the government to retain experienced professionals, particularly in critical sectors, thereby boosting productivity and ensuring continuity in governance.
He specifically faulted policies mandating the retirement of heads of research institutions and professors at 60 years, describing the development as a major setback to Nigeria’s knowledge-driven growth.
According to him, premature retirement in such specialised fields deprives the country of valuable expertise required for innovation and sustainable development.
Osifo added that a harmonised retirement framework would not only improve morale among workers but also enhance overall service delivery across ministries, departments and agencies.
He called on the Federal Government to engage stakeholders in broad-based consultations aimed at implementing a fair and sustainable reform of the civil service.
The TUC president also reiterated the union’s commitment to advocating comprehensive reforms, including improved wages and allowances, to better the welfare of Nigerian workers.
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