Reps okay bill to increase service years for health workers

• Says bill has the potential to revolutionise the health care sector in the country
  

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The House of Representatives has passed for the second reading a bill seeking to increase the retirement age of health workers to 65 years or 40 years of service.

The proposed legislation, which is sponsored by Adewale Hammed, is entitled a “bill for an Act to make Provisions for the Retirement Age of Health Workers in Nigeria and for Related Matters.”

Hammed, in his lead debate, said the bill, which is intended to increase the length of service for health worker, if passed into law, has the potential to revolutionise the health care sector in the country.

According to him, “increasing the retirement age will retain experienced healthcare workers, allowing them to continue contributing their expertise to the sector. This is particularly important at this time that the healthcare delivery system faces significant challenges, especially a shortage of skilled professionals.

“Nigeria’s healthcare sector is currently experiencing a significant depletion in both the number and quality of professionals due to two main factors. Firstly, a substantial number of health workers are migrating abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece; a trend difficult to stop given the fundamental human rights of the individuals concerned.

“Secondly, the compulsory retirement age of 60 and the mandatory 35 years of service, as stipulated in the public service rules, is contributing to the exodus of experienced professionals. While we cannot control the former, the latter can be addressed through the upward review of the retirement age which will be achieved by this Bill.”

The lawmaker noted that the Federal Government has previously increased the length of service for certain categories of public servants, including judges, lecturers, and teachers.

Hammed, while soliciting support for the bill, noted that “the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment reached an agreement with stakeholders in the health sector to increase the retirement age for health workers from 60 to 65 years, hence the need to backup the agreement with legislation.”