House of Representatives member, Wale Ahmed, has urged government to increase retirement age of health workers.
He said if the bill on Harmonised Retirement Age’ is passed by National Assembly and assented to by the President, it would revolutionalise the health sector.
The lawmaker said since Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment reached an agreement with stakeholders in the sector to increase the retirement age from 60 to 65, it should be backed by law.
Ahmed, who represents Agege in House of Reprsentatives, said the law would enable government to retain experieced doctors, nurses and allied workers, who would deploy their knowledge and expertise to development of the sector.
The legislator, who contributed to the debate, said jerking up the retirement age is more compelling, especially now health care delivery is confronted with shortage of personnel.
He said the legislation will transform the sector, assist Nigerians and contribute to growth.
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Ahmed said: ”Nigerian health sector is experiencing depletion in number and quality of professionals. A substantial number of health workers is migrating abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece, a trend difficult to stop, given the fundamental rights of those concerned.
“The compulsory age of 60 and mandatory 35 years of service, as stipulated in the public service rules, is contributing to the exodus of experienced professionals. While we cannot confront the former, the latter can be addressed through the upward review of the retirement age, which will be achieved by this bill.
Ahmed alluded to precedence, recalling that retirement age of judges, lecturers and teachers had been reviwed upward by the Federal Government.