May Day: NLC Demands 65-Year Retirement Age for Civil Servants

In a bold move aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s public sector employment landscape, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a sweeping reform of retirement policies, demanding the extension of the retirement age for all civil servants to 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.

The demand was made by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, during the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration at Eagle Square, Abuja. Addressing a large gathering of workers, union leaders, and dignitaries, Ajaero stated that the time has come for the government to harmonize retirement conditions across the civil service to reflect equity, experience retention, and continuity in public administration.


Currently, only select categories of public servants, including teachers, health professionals, and judges, benefit from the extended retirement age. This policy, initially introduced under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was designed to address the talent gap and shortage of skilled professionals in critical sectors.

Ajaero stressed that the same principle should apply to all civil servants. “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants,” he said. “A segmented retirement age creates imbalance, fuels discontent, and ignores the value long-serving workers bring to national development.”


While commending the President Bola Tinubu-led administration for its recent worker-focused initiatives, including wage negotiations and improved dialogue with labour unions, the NLC emphasized the urgency of this particular reform. Ajaero reminded the public that this demand had been raised during earlier discussions with the Federal Government, and pledged the union’s readiness to intensify advocacy if no concrete steps are taken soon.

“This is not a privilege we ask for — it is a matter of fairness and policy consistency. Public servants across ministries, departments and agencies contribute equally to national growth and deserve equal terms of service,” Ajaero added.


Beyond retirement reforms, the NLC also reiterated broader demands including a new living minimum wage, a comprehensive cost-of-living allowance (COLA), and robust investment in social welfare schemes to cushion workers from inflation and economic pressures. The union noted that civil servants continue to bear the brunt of subsidy removals and naira devaluation, without corresponding adjustment in compensation.

NLC’s call aligns with the 2025 Workers’ Day theme, “Reclaiming the Civil Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,” which underscores the challenges Nigerian workers face daily, from poor remuneration to inadequate healthcare, job insecurity, and increasing taxation.


Several labour leaders present at the event echoed Ajaero’s demand, insisting that an updated retirement policy would not only enhance morale but also create a seamless succession plan across government institutions. They argued that experienced civil servants are invaluable assets in mentoring the younger workforce and maintaining policy continuity.

Some civil society organizations also supported the call, urging the National Assembly to expedite legislative measures that would make the proposed reform binding and irreversible.


As Nigeria navigates its path toward economic recovery and institutional reform, the NLC’s demand for a uniform retirement age marks a significant step in redefining public sector engagement. Workers nationwide now look to the Tinubu administration for a definitive response that would enshrine equity, inclusivity, and long-term value in the nation’s civil service system.