Retirement Age for Health Workers in Nigeria: 65 Years, Who Qualifies, and What Changed in 2026

Quick Answer: What Is the New Retirement Age for Health Workers?

The retirement age for skilled clinical health workers in Nigeria’s federal tertiary health institutions is now 65 years, up from 60, or 40 years of service, up from 35, whichever comes first. President Bola Tinubu approved the change in early 2025, and a circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, dated December 31, 2025, set it to take effect from January 1, 2026.

The change is narrower than many readers assumed. It covers clinical staff in federal tertiary hospitals and centres, not every health worker and not other civil servants. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was still urging fuller implementation in August 2026. This guide explains who is covered, who is not, how to apply, and what remains unresolved.

Timeline of the Retirement Age Extension

• February 5, 2025: The NMA announces that the President has approved raising the retirement age for doctors and other health workers from 60 to 65. The announcement follows a meeting between Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate and leaders of the NMA, the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) and the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU). The minister is directed to take the approval to the National Council on Establishment through the Office of the Head of Service.
• December 31, 2025: The Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation issues the circular that puts the extension into effect for skilled clinical health professionals in federal tertiary health institutions.
• January 1, 2026: The policy takes effect.
• 2026: Cross River State issues its own circular extending the retirement age for frontline health workers.
• August 2026: The NMA’s National Executive Council, led by President Prof. Afekhide-Ernest Omoti, urges the federal government to implement the 65-year retirement age and voices concern about the delay.

Who Does the 65-Year Retirement Age Cover?

Clinical health workers in federal tertiary institutions

The federal circular applies to 26 cadres of skilled clinical health professionals working in federal tertiary hospitals and centres, such as teaching hospitals, federal medical centres and national orthopaedic hospitals. The covered cadres include medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, physiotherapists and psychologists, among others. Check the full list of 26 cadres in the circular itself before advising any individual.

Who is excluded?

• Clinical staff in Ministries and Extra-Ministerial Departments within the mainstream civil service are not covered by the circular.
• Other civil servants, including paramilitary services, are not covered. This answers a question raised in the comments on this page.
• Veterinary doctors and paraprofessionals were not included. The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association has asked for inclusion.

What about state governments?

State governments set their own rules. Cross River State, for example, has extended the retirement age to 65 (or 40 years of pensionable service) for frontline health workers, excluding those in administrative positions. If you work for a state government, check your state’s Head of Service for the position that applies to you.

How Do You Apply to Stay Until 65?

The extension is not automatic. Under the federal circular, an eligible officer who wants to continue beyond the old retirement age must submit a formal application at least three months before reaching 60 years of age or 35 years of service. In practice:

1. Confirm your cadre. Check that your cadre is on the circular’s list of 26 and that your institution is a federal tertiary hospital or centre.
2. Calculate your dates. Work out when you reach 60 years of age and 35 years of service. Whichever comes first is the date by which you must have applied, less three months.
3. Apply in writing. Submit your application to your institution’s human resources or establishment unit and keep a dated copy.
4. Follow up. Ask for written confirmation that your retirement date has been updated.

Why Nigeria Extended the Retirement Age for Health Workers

Brain drain and “japa”

Nigeria is losing experienced doctors, nurses, and other clinicians to health systems abroad, a trend widely called “japa.” Keeping senior clinicians in service for five more years helps hold on to their experience while the country works on pay and working conditions.

Knowledge transfer and staffing gaps

The NMA has long argued that a later retirement age improves knowledge transfer and quality of care. Senior clinicians can mentor younger colleagues for longer, and health facilities facing shortages keep experienced staff. The NMA itself calls the extension a palliative measure, not a complete answer. Better salaries, functional hospitals, security and prompt implementation of collective agreements remain essential.

Why the NMA Is Still Calling for Implementation

At its August 2026 National Executive Council meeting in Abuja, the NMA reiterated its concern over the delay in implementing the 65-year retirement age. The reports I reviewed do not spell out exactly which gaps the association means. Possible areas include the restriction to federal tertiary institutions, the exclusion of staff in ministries, and uneven adoption across states, but treat these as questions to put to your union, not confirmed facts.

The NMA also linked the delay to other unresolved welfare issues, including an outstanding Collective Bargaining Agreement with health workers, and said these delays encourage health professionals to emigrate.

What the Retirement Age Change Means for You

If you are a health worker approaching 60

Confirm whether your cadre and institution are covered, and work out your application deadline now. Because the application must be in at least three months before your 60th birthday or 35th year of service, missing the window could mean retiring on the old terms.

If you work in a ministry, a state institution, or a private hospital

The federal circular may not apply to you. Ask your employer or your professional body for the current policy, and keep records of any response.

If you manage a hospital or health agency

Map which clinical staff reach 60 or 35 years of service within the next 12 to 24 months, identify critical roles, and prepare succession and mentoring plans that work whether or not each person applies to stay on.

Retirement Age for Health Workers: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the retirement age for doctors and nurses in Nigeria now?
For skilled clinical health professionals in federal tertiary health institutions, it is 65 years of age or 40 years of service, whichever comes first, effective January 1, 2026.

Does the 65-year retirement age apply to all health workers?
No. The federal circular covers 26 clinical cadres in federal tertiary hospitals and centres. Clinical staff in ministries and extra-ministerial departments are excluded, and state governments set their own rules.

Does it apply to other civil servants?
No. This change is specific to clinical health workers.

Is the extension automatic?
No. Eligible officers who want to stay on must apply at least three months before reaching 60 years of age or 35 years of service.

Do state governments follow the same rule?
Not automatically. Cross River State has issued its own circular for frontline health workers. Check with your state’s Head of Service.

What if I have already reached the old retirement age?
A 2023 circular allowed clinical health workers who reached compulsory retirement to be offered contract appointments at the grade level they retired on, if desired and deserved. Confirm with your institution whether this still applies.

Who announced the approval?
The NMA’s national publicity secretary announced it in February 2025 after a meeting with Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

Why did the government approve it?
To address brain drain, improve knowledge transfer, and support quality healthcare delivery.

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