Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has given the green light to the implementation of a new retirement age and length of service for all teachers recognised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The decision was communicated through a press statement issued on Friday, August 4th, 2023.
According to the circular signed by the state Head of Service, Moses Ogbogbo Ode, PhD, the new policy took effect from May 2023, after the Benue State House of Assembly passed the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers, which was later signed into law by the previous administration.
The approved retirement age for teachers is now set at 65 years, with a maximum length of service of 40 years, depending on whichever comes earlier for the educators. This move aims to bring consistency and clarity to retirement rules in the teaching profession.
The circular emphasised that the new implementation applies without any distinctions to Education officers and teachers. However, those who are not interested in availing themselves of the elongation scheme have the option to retire from service following the existing Public Service Rules.
It is important to note that the Harmonised Retirement Age Law 2023 now holds precedence over any other guidelines pertaining to the subject. This will streamline retirement procedures and ensure uniformity in the education sector.
The Chief Press Secretary, Sir Tersoo Kula, urged Education Officers, Teachers, and the general public to familiarise themselves with the new regulation to facilitate a smooth transition.
With this recent approval, teachers in Benue State can now plan their careers with clearer retirement expectations and more standardised guidelines for their length of service.
Meanwhile, data from the Nigeria Union of Teachers indicate that only 15 states in the federation have implemented the new retirement age for teachers. The bill, approved by the Federal Executive Council in January 2021, was transmitted to the National Assembly by former President Muhammadu Buhari in June of the same year.
Follow the AkweyaTV channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7m7dvJuyA7h5XMc22i
