As Nigerian teachers marked the day on Sunday, data received from the National Union of Teachers revealed that 16 states of the federation were yet to implement the 65-year retirement age after it was signed into law.
The 65-year retirement age for teachers was signed into law by the late President Muhammadu Buhari on April 8, 2022, as part of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.
Section 1 of the Act clearly states that “Teachers in Nigeria shall compulsorily retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.”
While the provision of Section 3 of the Act provides that the Public Service Rule or any legislation that requires a person to retire from the Public Service at 60 years of age or after 35 years of Service shall not apply to teachers in Nigeria.
Apart from increasing the retirement age and years of service, the bill also introduced bursary awards, special rural posting allowances, and other items that will encourage brilliant Nigerians to take up teaching.
However, the Ministry of Education said the new retirement age and years of service would not be automatic, as teachers would demonstrate fitness before benefiting from the scheme.
According to the data from the NUT, the affected states are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, and Sokoto states.
Speaking at the celebration held at the union’s main conference hall, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, the Kwara State NUT chairman, Comrade Yusuf Agboola, lamented that the government had not keyed into the 65-year retirement policy.
“The government has not keyed into the 65/40 years national harmonised retirement age for teachers, and rural allowances for those teaching in remote areas remain outstanding,” he said.
Agboola called on the government to address outstanding welfare issues affecting public school teachers in the state, adding that the future of education in the state would remain uncertain if teachers were not properly motivated and supported.
He, however, commended the government for the regular payment of salaries, the financial backing of the 2023 and 2024 promotions of TESCOM teachers, and the recruitment of over 3,000 teachers across basic and senior secondary schools.
Teachers in Oyo State, however, commended the government for prompt payment of their salaries, recruitment of new teachers, career progression of teachers, promotion of primary school teachers to salary grade level 16, and the appointment of a teacher as the Executive Chairperson of the Oyo State Post-Primary Teaching Service Commission.
Speaking at this year’s celebration in Ibadan, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Raji Ismail, said Governor Seyi Makinde’s magnanimity culminated in the array of achievements recorded by his administration at NUT.
He applauded the evacuation of the six-year promotion waiting period for primary school teachers, and asked the government to look into “inadequate funding of education, infrastructural deficits, and the need for continuous capacity development of teachers.”
NUT demands investment
In a goodwill message read in states across the country, the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Amba, called on governments to adequately fund public education and invest in teachers.
“Without deliberate investment in teachers, the future of education is at risk.
“Governments must increase budgetary allocation to education and create a conducive learning atmosphere to ensure quality outcomes,” he said.
Amba lauded teachers nationwide, saying, “Comrades, I commend your courage, resilience, and patriotism in discharging your duties. Be assured that your success is our priority. We will continue to demand that teachers are accorded their rightful status and pride of place in society,” he added.
The Sokoto NUT chairman, Comrade Murtala Mohammed, commended teachers across the state for their resilience, dedication, and commitment to nurturing future leaders, despite challenges confronting the education sector.
Speaking in Sokoto on Sunday, Mohammed urged teachers to remain steadfast and united in their calling, stressing that cooperation and collective effort are key to achieving academic excellence in the state.
While acknowledging the support of Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration, the NUT chairman lauded the recent implementation of teachers’ promotions and the significant increase in their minimum wage from N18,000 to N70,000.
He described the development as a morale booster for educators across the state.
