The House of Representatives has moved a motion for a bill to implement ways to tackle stagnation, age falsification and compulsory retirement of directors in the nation’s public service.

Following a public hearing organized by the House Committee on Public Service Matters on Friday, the house also moved for a 30 days bereavement leave in the service.

As contained in a statement by the media unit of the Committee on Saturday, speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, raised the topic which cleared the ground for dialogue on the issue.

He said; “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.”

“The House is ready to address stagnation in promotion in the federal civil service.

“The development has become a major source of frustration for many civil servants who, despite years of service and consistent performance, find their career growth stalled.

“This stagnation undermines morale, stifles innovation, and weakens the overall effectiveness of our public service.

“The motion calls for a comprehensive investigation and recommends structural reforms to restore merit and efficiency in civil service promotion processes.”

On the issue of age falsification, the speaker said the house is trying to move a motion to investigate and prosecute age falsification in the Nigerian civil service. Which he cited as a long-standing challenge that has overruled the system’s integrity.

He further stated that a bill for an Act to repeal the National Assembly Service Commission Act of 2014 and replace it with the National Assembly Service Act, 2025 is in consideration, too.

He firmly stated need for the legislature to be actively supported by an efficient, modern, and professional administrative system to meet the present-day complexities of legislative operations.

Another motion the speaker mentioned to be considered is the amendment to the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act (2023) to reconstitute membership of the Pension Board, establish a clear and equitable framework for gratuity payments, and create a dedicated fund for the pension scheme.

He added; “These motions and bills are connected to real people, real institutions, and real challenges and they require our genuine participation.

“Today’s hearing is an opportunity to engage, interrogate, and collaborate on how best to move our civil and parliamentary services forward.

“Your insights, observations, and recommendations will guide us in shaping responsive and effective laws that reflect both global best practices and local realities.

He clarified that these reforms are in a bid to ensure that those who have served the assembly with dedication are treated with fairness and dignity in their retirement years.

In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Public Service Matters, Sani Bala, said it is the committee is responsible for th thoroughl examination of the proposals, engage with stakeholders, and ensure that the legislative work is done diligently, transparently, and in the best interest of the Nigerian people with fairness, equity, and accountability.

In his remarks, also, the President of Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero lauded the house of representatives for the initiative to move the civil service forward.

He, however, said that the widowhood leave should be replaced with bereavement leave so that their male counterparts can also benefit, insisting that it should come with special pay of 100 per cent of monthly pay.

He added; “Nigerian workers are already suffering systemic insensitivity to their emotional and psychological well-being as a result of the non-existence of a statute of this nature. This law will allow workers sufficient time to heal and return to work healthier and more productive.

“Several countries have recognized the profound emotional and logistical challenges faced by individuals following the death of a spouse, by instituting bereavement or family responsibility leave policies. Notable examples include South Africa and France.”