The House of Representatives has intensified move towards addressing age falsification, stagnation and compulsory retirement of directors after eight years in office, as it also seeks to create a 30-day widowhood leave for the Nigerian public servants.q

The House Committee on Public Service Matters had on Friday commenced a public hearing to harvest expert opinions and public views on the issues to form part of inputs to finalise the process.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen at the opening of the hearing said  the hearing provided a platform for open dialogue on the legislative proposals that cut across welfare, institutional efficiency, and public service accountability.

“While this policy may have been well-intentioned, it has sparked serious concerns. Many view it as a waste of talent and institutional knowledge, prematurely pushing experienced professionals out of service. This motion urges us to rethink the policy’s implications on leadership continuity and productivity,” he said.

According to him, stagnation in the public service “undermines morale, stifles innovation, and weakens the overall effectiveness of our public service,”, adding that “the motion calls for a comprehensive investigation and recommends structural reforms to restore merit and efficiency in civil service promotion processes.”

Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Sani Bala in his remarks said  it was the responsibility of the committee to thoroughly examine the proposals, engage with stakeholders, and ensure that the legislative work is done diligently.

“The issues under consideration are critical to the functioning of our government, and to the lives of millions of Nigerians who rely on a responsive and efficient public service. Let me use this medium to reiterate the importance of separation of powers which ensures that every arm of government acts independently, yet are in cooperation toward serving the Nigerian people,” he said.