Opinion: The Danger of Extension of service year for Retired Office Holders

Agreed, there are certain policy of government that are enforced for continuity.

But mental health workers, are of the opinion, that at certain age at work or in service impact reduces on productivity, especially when it comes to office holders who have served 35 years or attained 60 years of age.

It is a misnomer and a recipe for disaster in performance and service delivery. Just like you have a vehicle road worthiness for a duration of time, no matter how you serviced it, it will no longer function perfectly when it is phased out and no spare parts to replace worn out parts.

History has it that many extensions lead to lost confidence, withdrawal of loyalty, indiscipline, low morale and low productivity in the affected organisation and impacting negatively on morale and emotions which affects performance, service delivery and good Governance.

Reason is simple, there are others on line of seniority, whose years of service and age limit is also counting. You are either depriving those on seniority list the opportunity to advance and rise to their peak or creating a scenario of lobbyist, extension seekers, manipulators of date of birth,forgers of documents and other fraudulent practices to fit in and not get kicked out due to service years or age limit.

When people are employed or enlisted into services and organisations,the original plan is not to look for extension after the expiration of a duty tour or service,but to exit honorably,with integrity and respect,but this, so call extension leads to dishonour and lack of integrity,many end up being worst than they were before the extension was granted,in essence, extension is a robber of years for eligible candidates and prospective appointees on line by seniority or eligibility.

Where is merit in all this issue called extension? Is it that in such organisation or service,there are no qualified persons to step in or take over an office, when someone is retired by age or service years?

Must an appointee collapse on the sit due to pressure and ageing, because health is wealth,as you age the productivity reduced due to lack of stamina, reduced thinking and communication disposition,certain qualities drops to give room to ageing.

As a matter of fact, after 35 years of service,the individual is no longer the same at 20,25 or 30 years in service,the winding up period creeps in and the body system signals withdrawal,when such receives extension due to forced and mechanical operation,the best is no longer available,it leads to frustration, aggression and vendetta,perceived failure and damage controls.

On this note,the association of Professional Psychotherapists and Mental health therapist are advising government to stop undue extension of service years for retiring employees in public and private sectors for increase productivity,longevity,good services and good governance in all sectors.

Written by the

Association of Professional Psychotherapists and Mental health therapists.Abuja