Donald Duke Promises To Increase Retirement Age In Public Service

The Presidential candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Donald Duke, has promised that the retirement age for civil servants would be extended to 70 years if he is elected president in 2019.

Duke, who was represented by Precious Elekima, the governorship candidate of the party in Rivers, made the promise on Monday in Port Harcourt, at the flag-off of the party’s campaign for 2019 polls in Rivers.

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The statutory age of retirement of public officers in Nigeria is 60 years while it is 65 years for judicial officers and 70 for academic staff of universities.

However, with the reform of the civil service decree, No. 43 of 1988 retirement age has been put at 60 years or 35 years in service whichever comes first.

The SDP Presidential standard-bearer also promised to increase the number of years put in service before retirement to 45 from the existing 35 years.

“Today I am representing our presidential candidate to pass his message to Nigerians and to the people of Rivers State in particular.

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“We will extend the civil servants retirement age to 45 years of service or 70 years of age mandatory; retirement after 35 years of service or 60 years of age will be optional.

“This is because if lecturers and judges can work up till 70 years, I am sure civil servants can also work till that age.

“Our pensioners will be on first priority and must be paid first before anyone in the state.”

Duke, also promised free tuition in primary, secondary and tertiary education in the country, if elected president in 2019.

“Our administration will bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by offering free tuition in all levels of education – from primary to tertiary.

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“We will revisit the handover of schools to missionaries with a view to working out an agreeable partnership, taking into consideration the interest of the public, the missions and the communities.

“Undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships home and abroad will be offered. Board of governors will be inaugurated for all public primary and secondary schools in Rivers state,” he said.

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