The House of Representatives on Thursday passed for second reading a bill seeking to increase the retirement age of health workers in the country from 60 to 65 and 35 to 40 years in service.

Leading a debate on the bill at plenary, its sponsor, Dr. Wale Hammed (APC, Lagos), said the law will encourage experienced medical professionals to contribute to the development of the health sector while training the younger ones.

According to him, it has the potential to revolutionise the healthcare sector, adding that the Japa syndrome is having adverse effect on the sector as majority of those leaving the country are always the younger ones.

He said while the country not be able to stop migration because of the rights of the individuals involved, the retirement age can be adjusted to allow those willing to work locally stay longer in service.

He said “increasing the retirement age will retain experienced healthcare workers, allowing them to continue contributing their expertise to the sector, as it is particularly important at this time that the healthcare delivery system faces significant challenges especially a shortage of skilled professionals.

“Nigeria’s healthcare sector is currently experiencing a significant depletion in both the number and quality of professionals due to two main factors.

“Firstly, a substantial number of health workers are migrating abroad in search of the proverbial golden fleece—a trend difficult to stop given the fundamental human rights of the individuals concerned. Secondly, the compulsory retirement age of 60 and the mandatory 35 years of service, as stipulated in the public service rules, is contributing to the exodus of experienced professionals.

“While we cannot control the former, the latter can be addressed through the upward review of the retirement age which will be achieved by this Bill.

“We have precedence for such measures, as the federal government has previously reviewed upward, the retirement age for certain categories of public servants, including judges, lecturers, and teachers.”

Contributing to the debate, Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) asked members to give the bill a sense of direction, adding that some states of the federation has already increased the retirement age of health workers.

He disclosed that during recruitment in the hospitals, specifications are always given, adding that consultants and other health professionals are always in short fall because of the lack of experience.

He said health professionals above 50, who are ready to stay and contribute to the health care delivery system, should be allowed to do so rather than being retired because of age or length is service.

Also contributing, Bello Ambarura said a lot of vacancies for consultants in the various Federal Medical Centres are unfilled while those retiring are being hijacked by foreign agencies because of their experience.

He argued that Increasing the retirement age for health workers will amount to doing a lot of good to the health sector in the country.(The Nation)