The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to implement more compassionate and equitable policies within the public service, particularly regarding widowhood, bereavement, retirement, and promotion matters.
Speaking at a public hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajero, made a series of strong recommendations aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian workers.
The hearing focused on six proposed bills intended to address critical issues affecting public sector operations and civil service administration in Nigeria.
Ajero threw his weight behind the establishment of a statutory widowhood leave policy, describing the emotional and logistical challenges following the death of a spouse as overwhelming and deserving of official recognition.
He argued that a structured leave period would provide grieving employees the necessary time to recover emotionally and make practical adjustments in their personal lives.
He recommended that the proposed policy must be inclusive of both widows and widowers, urging lawmakers to ensure gender equality in its implementation.
According to him, the minimum duration for such leave should be 30 working days, with provisions for an extension to 60 working days under exceptional circumstances.
Ajero further demanded that affected employees be paid 100% of their monthly basic salary as widowhood leave allowance during this period.
He warned that employers must not use this period of leave against workers in performance reviews or promotions, stressing that workers should not be penalized for exercising their right to grieve.
In addition to widowhood leave, the NLC also proposed the institutionalization of bereavement leave for workers mourning other close relatives.
Ajero recommended that workers should be entitled to at least two weeks of bereavement leave, along with a corresponding bereavement allowance, to help them manage their emotional distress and related obligations.
Turning to employment policies, Comrade Ajero strongly criticized the current rule mandating compulsory retirement of directors after eight years in office, describing it as unjust, arbitrary, and harmful to the public service.
He emphasized that the policy disregards valuable experience and undermines the accumulation of institutional memory, which is essential for organizational continuity and efficiency. The NLC, therefore, called for an immediate repeal of this rule, branding it as an outdated and oppressive relic of bureaucratic tradition.
Ajero advocated for the adoption of a merit-based promotion system, where continued service is determined by competence and performance rather than fixed tenure.
He proposed the creation of new senior cadres beyond director-level to accommodate experienced personnel and prevent stagnation.
The labour leader also voiced concerns about the persistent issue of promotion stagnation in the federal civil service, likening it to a “cancer” that is gradually eroding morale, reducing productivity, and discouraging talented employees from committing to long-term public service.
He urged the government to introduce structural reforms that would ensure regular and fair promotion based on merit, competence, and performance, warning that failure to act would continue to damage the efficiency and integrity of the civil service.