The House of Representatives has initiated legislative steps aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s public service, focusing on ending false age claims, tackling promotion stagnation, and improving worker welfare.
At a public hearing organized by the Committee on Public Service Matters, stakeholders and lawmakers deliberated on key reforms designed to improve civil service integrity and efficiency.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, revealed that a major proposal seeks to scrap the mandatory eight-year retirement rule for directors, describing it as counterproductive to experience retention and institutional memory.
Also under review are issues of career stagnation, as many federal workers reportedly remain in the same roles for years without promotion despite good performance. Lawmakers are proposing a full-scale review of promotion procedures to encourage fairness and productivity.
To curb widespread age falsification, the House is considering legislation to criminalize the practice. Proposed measures include digital verification systems and strict enforcement to ensure credible service records.
In a move to support grieving staff, a new 30-day widowhood leave is being introduced. However, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) is pushing for a more inclusive “bereavement leave” accessible to all workers, regardless of gender, and fully paid — citing practices in France and South Africa as examples.
Lawmakers are also working on a new 2025 National Assembly Service Act, which will replace the outdated 2014 law. The new bill proposes the restructuring of the Pension Board, the establishment of a dedicated pension fund, and equitable gratuity structures to protect retired staff.
Labour leaders welcomed the reforms but called for broader consultation, emotional support services, and inclusive policy design.
The proposals signal a renewed commitment by lawmakers to address long-standing inefficiencies and injustices in Nigeria’s civil service system.
