The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a new bill seeking to increase the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.
The bill which is called Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021, was approved on Wednesday during the weekly meeting at the Council Chambers in Abuja.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu who briefed journalists after the meeting said the bill which gives legal backing to new measures by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will enhance the teaching profession in the country.
He noted that the approval of the bill for the Ministry of Education was a giant step towards what was set out for 2020.
“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 ‘Harmonised 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 a new retirement age of 65 for teachers and then the service period being extended to 40 years.” Mr. Adamu added.
Further disclosing details of the bill, the minister said the bill will be sent to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.
The minister also disclosed that the bill seeks to introduce bursary awards, special rural posting allowances, and other items that will encourage brilliant Nigerians to take to teaching.
