Tinubu extends health workers’ retirement age to 65

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has approved the extension of the retirement age for clinically skilled health workers from 60 to 65 years.

Alaba Balogun, Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, in a statement on Thursday, said the Coordinating Minister, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed this during a meeting with leaders of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Medical & Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the Association of Nigerian Nurses & Midwives.

He said the President had consented to exempt clinically skilled health workers from the extant retirement age of 60, extending it to 65, with an explicit mandate to follow due process for its implementation.

The Minister informed representatives of medical and allied health practitioners that the Ministry would begin the process of collaborating with the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, the National Council on Establishment, and other relevant stakeholders to actualise the directive.

While appreciating all Nigerian health workers for the relative peace and harmony in the sector over the past eighteen months, Prof. Pate assured them that the pending issue of the payment of seven months’ arrears of CONMESS and CONHESS was being addressed.

Responding, NMA President Prof. Bala Audu commended President Tinubu for restoring leadership in the Ministry, stressing that the Coordinating Minister had created an enabling environment for openness and dialogue with the unions.

Prof. Audu also expressed the willingness of the unions to cooperate and work with the Ministry to ensure a logical conclusion on the upward review of the retirement age and the payment of the outstanding seven months’ arrears.