By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) Wednesday approved the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021, which seeks to give legal backing to new measures by the current administration to enhance the teaching profession in the country.
The FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja approved the bill to be sent to the National Assembly for its consideration and possible approval.
If approved by the lawmakers, the retirement age of teachers will move from 60 years to 65 while the years of service will also move from 35 to 40.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who disclosed this to correspondents at the end of the Council meeting, said some highlights of the Bill include the introduction of bursary award, special rural posting allowances and other measures to attract the best brains to the profession.
Adamu speaks further: “The intention is to attract the best brains to the teaching profession. For that, the President approved the reintroduction of bursary awards which I told you here last year, improving teacher quality, and funding teaching practice.
“From TETFUND, he approved an enhanced entry point for teachers. Then, he approved that there should be some special allowances that will allow teachers to be posted to places you can consider ‘hardship postings’, rural posting allowance, science teacher allowance, and of course we have Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) under us that has professionalized the profession.
“Those are the highlights which you already know. But this is the biggest stage now. We are getting legal backing for all these things. The essence of the bill is to seek approval so that there is legal backing for the new retirement age of 65 years for teachers and the service period being extended to 40 years for teachers.
This is the main issue while all other issues are ancillary to it.
