President Bola Tinubu has withheld approval to a bill seeking to extend the tenure of service of senate members of the National Assembly, as well as the 36 state Houses of Assembly from 35 to 40 years and their retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
The president’s declined assent was passed in a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.
The retirement age bill was first stepped down in February, 2024 for further consultation with stakeholders, after a significant number of legislative officers voted against the motion.
The bill first introduced during the 7th Assembly, was conveyed to the 9th Assembly where it suffered a standstill and then to the 10th Senate.
The president of the Senate, Akoabio, presided over the resumption of legislative sitting after eight weeks of recess.