The House of Representatives is pushing new reforms to fix key problems in Nigeria’s civil service.
Lawmakers discussed stalled promotions, fake ages, and 30-day bereavement leave to support workers.
The House of Representatives has stepped up efforts to reform Nigeria’s public service by tackling persistent issues such as promotion stagnation, age falsification, and the mandatory retirement of directors. Lawmakers are also weighing the introduction of a 30-day bereavement leave to support workers experiencing personal loss.
These initiatives were discussed at a public hearing organized on Friday by the House Committee on Public Service Matters. The event was part of ongoing legislative efforts to modernize the civil service and promote institutional efficiency and worker welfare.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, who addressed participants at the hearing, emphasized the importance of open dialogue in shaping reforms that would enhance accountability and effectiveness within the public sector.
According to a statement issued by the Committee’s media unit on Saturday, Abbas expressed concerns about policies that force experienced directors into premature retirement. “While such policies may have been well-intentioned, many see them as counterproductive leading to a waste of talent and institutional memory,” he said.
He called on lawmakers and stakeholders to reconsider the implications of such policies on leadership continuity and national productivity.
Abbas also addressed the growing frustration among civil servants due to stalled career progression. “Many diligent officers, despite years of committed service, face stagnation in promotions,” he noted. “This demoralizes workers, hinders innovation, and diminishes the overall effectiveness of public institutions.”
To address this, he said the House would support structural reforms aimed at restoring merit-based promotion practices.
On the matter of age falsification a long-standing issue in Nigeria’s public service the Speaker described the practice as a threat to institutional integrity and equitable succession planning. He proposed deploying technology-based verification systems, alongside institutional and legal measures, to curb the malpractice.
“These motions are not abstract they affect real lives, real institutions, and real progress. Today’s public hearing is a chance for us all to engage meaningfully and shape policies that align with global standards while remaining sensitive to local realities,” Abbas stated.
In addition to these motions, the House is also considering a bill to repeal and replace the National Assembly Service Commission Act of 2014 with a new 2025 version, aimed at professionalizing and modernizing the legislature’s administrative framework.
There is also a proposed amendment to the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act (2023), which seeks to reform the board’s membership, establish a clear framework for gratuity payments, and create a dedicated pension fund for retired assembly staff.
“These reforms are essential to ensuring that those who have served the nation with dedication are treated fairly and with dignity in retirement,” the Speaker added.
Chairman of the House Committee on Public Service Matters, Sani Bala, reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to conducting a transparent and inclusive review of all proposals. He stressed that the reforms under discussion are vital to strengthening governance and improving public service delivery.
“We are committed to scrutinizing every proposal and working closely with stakeholders to ensure that the laws we enact reflect fairness, accountability, and the best interests of Nigerians,” Bala said.
Also speaking at the hearing, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, praised the House for taking bold steps toward revamping the civil service. He urged lawmakers to adopt a gender-inclusive approach to the proposed leave policy by introducing a 30-day bereavement leave applicable to both men and women.
Ajaero also recommended that the leave come with full salary. “Nigerian workers already endure systemic neglect of their emotional and psychological well-being. This law would grant them the needed time to heal and return to work better prepared and more productive,” he said.
He cited examples from South Africa and France, where bereavement or family responsibility leave policies have been successfully implemented, noting that such global practices could serve as models for Nigeria.
