Kebbi State Raises Doctors' Retirement Age to 65

The Kebbi State Government has approved a policy to extend the mandatory retirement age for medical doctors and veterinarians in the civil service from 60 to 65 years. This decision was made during a meeting of the State Executive Council held on Monday at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

Alhaji Auwal Manu Dogondaji, who briefed journalists, stated that the move aims to strengthen healthcare delivery and address manpower shortages in the health sector. The policy will allow professionals to serve for 35 to 40 years, whichever comes first, and is designed to retain experienced specialists who often peak in their clinical expertise between the ages of 55 and 65.

The current mandatory retirement age of 60 has led to a loss of highly skilled consultants and surgeons capable of contributing to healthcare delivery. The new retirement arrangement will also apply to veterinarians, and retention beyond the age of 60 will be subject to annual medical fitness certification and satisfactory performance appraisals.

This policy will take effect on January 1, 2026, aligning with similar reforms adopted by the federal government.