The Taraba state government has commenced steps to adopt the Federal Government’s policy extending the retirement age of eligible health professionals to 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first.
The Head of the Civil Service of Taraba State, Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, disclosed this while speaking at the 23rd North-East Zonal Meeting of the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), held in Jalingo, the state capital.
Kara said the state government had concluded extensive consultations on the policy and agreed in principle to adopt it, subject to the assent of Governor Agbu Kefas to the relevant state legislation.
He explained that the move followed Federal Government Circular Ref. No. HCSF/3065/Vol.1/227, dated December 31, 2025, which provides for the extension of the retirement age for eligible health professionals.
“On the issue of 65 years and 40 years, I think we are waiting for the signing by His Excellency, Dr. Agbu Kefas. In respect of the meetings we have concluded, we have agreed that we are going to adopt that policy,” Kara said.
He added that the policy would be implemented in Taraba immediately after the governor’s assent and the completion of the necessary legislative process.
The Head of Service also disclosed that discussions between the state government and the National Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSITF, on a proposed social insurance scheme for civil servants had reached an advanced stage.
According to him, the initiative is designed to strengthen social protection and improve access to healthcare and other welfare benefits for civil servants and their families.
“Discussion has reached an advanced stage with the National Social Insurance Trust Fund, and that policy will be implemented in Taraba. It is a policy that, at the beginning, looked very difficult, but at the end, the government and the people of Taraba State will enjoy the policy,” he said.
Kara said the proposed arrangement would provide financial and medical support to civil servants who could not afford treatment, including treatment outside the country where applicable.
He further stated that under the proposed arrangement, the insurance scheme would also provide educational support for up to six children of a deceased civil servant until they attain the age of 17.
He, however, stressed that the specific benefits were part of the proposed social insurance arrangement currently being discussed between the state government and NSITF.
Earlier, the State Chairman of MHWUN and Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Taraba State Council, Comrade Peter Jediel, commended the North-East zonal leadership, delegates and other stakeholders for their participation, while appreciating the leadership of the MHWUN National Secretariat.
The meeting, according to him, provided a platform for health workers and organised labour to deliberate on retirement policy, workers’ welfare, social protection and other issues affecting the public service.
65 year retirement age for health workers awaits Kefas’ assent