Richard Ginika Izuora
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved an increase in the retirement age of teachers across the country; from 60 to 65 years or 40 years in service as against 35, Adamu revealed.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made this clarification when he briefed the media on the outcome of the Council meeting; which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Wednesday, January 20.
According to him, the new retirement age for teachers is now 65 years or 40 years of service.
He said the Federal Executive Council also approved that bill to be known as ‘Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020’ be sent to the National Assembly to give legal backing to the approval.
Prior to this development; the retirement age of teachers in the country was 60 years or 35 years in service.
The Minister said the government decided to increase the years as a reward for teachers’ dedication to duty; and also to attract more people to the profession.
Adamu said: “This memo that was approved for the Ministry of Education is a giant step towards what we set out to do last year; with the approval of some special packages for teachers by the President.
“So, at the meeting today, Council approved that a bill which will be called harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2020 be sent to the National Assembly for enactment into law so that all the promises made by the president; and all the approvals he had given to me will now begin to be put into effect; because this is the legal backing that is required for it.
“The essence of the bill actually is to give legal backing for the approval of new retirement age of 65 for teachers and then the service period being extended to 40 years.
“The intention is to attract the best brains to the teaching profession; and for that, the president approved the reintroduction of bursary awards; improving teacher quality, funding teaching practice from TETFUND, enhanced entry point for teachers.’’
Adamu announced that the president also approved that there should be some special allowances; like rural posting allowance and science teachers’ allowance to boost teacher education in the country.