Ending Retirement Age Disparity: Tinubu’s Chance to Unite Medical and Veterinary Services

Nigeria’s public health framework suffers from inconsistent retirement policies. While medical doctors can serve until 65, veterinary professionals face compulsory retirement at 60. This gap undermines equity and weakens our ability to manage zoonotic threats. Veterinarians are essential to disease surveillance, outbreak prevention, biosecurity, food safety, and livestock protection. Excluding them from the extended retirement age contradicts Nigeria’s One Health commitment and ignores a growing shortage of veterinary expertise in many states. The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development have called for parity in retirement policy. Aligning veterinary doctors with the 65-year age limit recognized by the CONMESS framework would enhance national health security and economic stability. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can resolve this inconsistency with a clear directive to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. Extending the retirement age for veterinary professionals is not just fair—it is vital for cohesion and foresight in Nigeria’s health sector.

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