FG panel recommends setting doctors’ retirement age at 70
FG panel recommends setting doctors’ retirement age at 70
The committee reviewing the retirement age for medical and dental consultants has completed its report and is set to reconvene on July 7 to finalize discussions.
The committee includes representatives from the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the Nigerian Medical Association, the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, and the Joint Health Sector Unions.
MDCAN serves as the umbrella organization for specialists in healthcare and medical education in Nigeria.
In February, President Bola Tinubu approved raising the retirement age for doctors and other healthcare workers from 60 to 65 years.
Both the NMA and MDCAN lauded the President for the decision, calling it a positive step toward addressing the nation’s healthcare workforce shortage.
However, the committee was set up to draft a memo outlining the proposal to raise the retirement age for medical and dental consultants from 60 to 70 years.
The committee, set up by the Federal Government, has already submitted its findings, with the ministry adding its input.
Our correspondent has learned that the upcoming meeting will review both the committee’s recommendations and the ministry’s submissions before forwarding the proposal to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation for further consideration.
In an exclusive interview on Tuesday, the President of MDCAN, Prof. Aminu Muhammed, stated, “The committee has completed its work, and the ministry has reviewed it. Now, both parties will meet to harmonize the final submission, which will then be forwarded to the Head of Service.
“I have also heard, although not yet confirmed, that the National Council of Establishment may hold a meeting in July. If that happens, we are hopeful that government approval could be granted before the end of the month,” he added.
Beyond the retirement age issue, the MDCAN President mentioned that the association has given the government a deadline of August to clear outstanding payments, including the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure and clinical duty arrears from January to July 2023.
“Although the government has claimed a lack of funds, we are waiting until August for these payments because doctors are becoming increasingly frustrated over the unpaid arrears,” he noted.
