by Around 30 senior officials, including the Clerk of the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal, are preparing for retirement following President Bola Tinubu’s refusal to extend the service age for parliamentary staff.
Tambawal began his pre-retirement leave on November 1, 2024, after handing over to his deputy, Kamouroudeen Ogundele. Officially retiring in February 2025 when he turns 60, Tambawal will not resume any duties before his departure.
A document seen by The PUNCH reveals that other prominent officials, such as the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akabueze, along with several directors and deputies, are also retiring soon.
This wave of retirements follows President Tinubu’s decision not to approve a bill that aimed to extend the retirement age from 60 to 65 or from 35 to 40 years of service. Although this bill had been presented multiple times in past assemblies, it failed to pass until the 10th Assembly passed it in 2023, only for the President to decline assent.
According to sources, most of the retiring staff have worked in the National Assembly since its formation in the early 1990s. Many are now reaching the retirement age of 60 or have completed 35 years of service.
Another source mentioned that more officials are expected to retire in batches, with 20 to 30 more likely to leave in early 2025. However, sources clarified that the number of retirees is closer to 46 for the year, not the rumored 80.
Concerns have been raised about the potential impact on “legislative memory,” as many experienced staff members are leaving, possibly affecting the continuity and institutional knowledge critical for legislative functions.
