Reactions as Group Drags Senate President, House Speaker to Court Over Age Retirement Bill of National Assembly Workers, Others

The Registered Trustees of Mavrik Applicant Solution Foundation, a notable non-governmental organization, has taken legal steps against top Nigerian legislative officials, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

The NGO has approached a Federal High Court with a plea to halt the ongoing legislative process aimed at raising the retirement age for National Assembly staff from 60 to 65 years.

The NGO seeks an Interlocutory Injunction to prevent any further advancement of the bill, which proposes extending the retirement age for National Assembly personnel, pending the resolution of the main lawsuit. Furthermore, it demands that the Clerk of the National Assembly and any staff due for retirement be directed to proceed on leave immediately, given the absence of any law authorizing their extended service.

Filed on March 6, 2024, by attorney Henry Okoro, the lawsuit raises crucial questions about the legality of bypassing established public service regulations and constitutional provisions. The plaintiff argues that the bill’s passage did not adhere to due process and contravenes the constitution, posing a risk of rendering the court’s potential judgment inconsequential if not addressed promptly.

Central to the dispute are interpretations of the 1999 Constitution and the Public Service Rules (2021), with the NGO contesting the lawmakers’ authority to unilaterally extend retirement ages without constitutional amendments. The foundation underscores the absence of any special status for National Assembly staff that would justify such an expedited legislative amendment.