At least 30 top officials are set to retire alongside the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambawal, according to information gathered by J.O Comms.
As per parliamentary procedure, Tambawal began his pre-retirement leave on November 1, 2024, and has officially handed over responsibilities to his deputy, Kamouroudeen Ogundele. Tambawal, who was first appointed acting Clerk in November 2022 and later confirmed to the role in March 2023, will turn 60 in February 2025. While he will officially retire in February, his pre-retirement leave means he will not be engaged in any official duties until then.
An official document obtained by our correspondent confirms that several senior staff members of the National Assembly will also be retiring. Among those leaving are the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akabueze, the Deputy Clerk to the Senate, and the Deputy Clerk of the House of Representatives. Additionally, 11 directors, six deputy directors, one assistant director, and two other senior officials at the National Assembly Service Commission are also set to retire.
The wave of retirements follows President Bola Tinubu’s decision to withhold assent to a bill seeking to extend the retirement age of parliamentary staff. The bill proposed raising the retirement age to 65 or allowing for 40 years of service, compared to the current law which sets retirement at 60 years of age or 35 years of service.
This bill, initially introduced in the 7th Assembly, failed to pass but was reintroduced in the 8th and 9th Assemblies before eventually passing in the 10th Assembly in December 2023. Despite initial rejection by the Senate, it was later passed on March 31, 2024, and sent to the president for approval. However, President Tinubu declined to assent to the bill, triggering a wave of retirements between October and December 2024, with additional retirements expected in 2025.
A source familiar with the situation explained that most of the retiring officials were employed by the commission in the early 1990s, when the National Assembly was first established. “Many are either approaching 60 years of age or have completed 35 years of service,” the source said. “The majority of those retiring now are doing so because of age.”
It was also noted that retirements would occur in phases, with around 20 to 30 additional officials expected to retire in January 2025. The total number of retirees between this year and next is expected to be substantial, as many civil servants reach the age of 60.
In addition to senior officials, numerous National Assembly staff members at both the top and mid-levels are also set to retire or resign in the near future.
One anonymous official expressed concern about the impact of the retirements on the National Assembly’s institutional memory. “The large number of retirements is concerning,” the official said. “My worry is whether there is enough manpower to fill the void left behind. And what about legislative memory? The experience of long-serving staff is crucial to the functioning of the parliament.”
However, two high-ranking officers suggested the number of retirements might be lower than initially reported. One source with detailed knowledge of the matter stated that 46 staff members are set to retire between January and December 2024, rather than the 80 originally suggested. “While retirements are happening, the total number of those retiring this year is 46, not 80,” the source clarified.
The retirement of these senior officials marks the beginning of a significant transition within the National Assembly, raising questions about succession and the future of legislative operations.
