By Abdul Seye,
The House of Representatives has moved to increase the retirement age of persons with disabilities by five years.
The bill, sponsored by Babajimi Benson from Lagos, seeks to increase the retirement age from 65 to 70 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.
The bill is also seeking to ensure that the Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities is someone also with a disability.
Leading the debate on the bill, Benson said the bill will ensure that persons with disabilities are fairly treated to ensure equity and justice.
He noted that “employment rates of persons with disabilities are substantially lower than the rates for persons without disabilities in Nigeria.”
Benson said the bill seeks to “give them more opportunities, not only to fully give their services to the country but to also benefit more from the government and live a reasonable life after retirement.”
Opposing the bill, Tajudeen Yusuf said the bill will discriminate against other workers.
Despite the opposition, the bill scaled second reading as Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila defended the bill.
