FG to move teachers retirement age to 65 — Osinbajo

*To pay undergraduates studying Education N75,000 per semester

As NUT, UNESCO, ILO, others hail Nigerian teachers on World Teachers’ Day Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says efforts are underway to increase the retirement age of teachers in Nigeria’s public service from 60 years to 65 years.

This is even as the Federal Government has proposed to pay the sum of N75,000 per semester for undergraduates studying education courses in public institutions and N50,000 for those who enroll for a National Certificate In Education (N.C.E.) programme.

Osinbajo disclosed the move to increase the retirement age of teachers on Tuesday while hosting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Oluwabunmi Anani, Maltina Teacher of the Year, 2020 Winner, as part of the 2021 World Teachers Day celebration.

Anani was accompanied on the visit to the Presidential Villa by Uzodinma Odenigbo, Head of Public and Government Affairs, Nigerian Breweries Limited (NBL).

The vice president said that there were also moves to employ teachers into the public service starting from level 8 as against level 7.

“So, I think also important to reward teachers; the Federal Government, on its part, has been doing a bit of work in trying to improve the lot of teachers.

“For example, there is policy now, though not a law yet; it is still in the National Assembly about moving the retirement age of teachers in the public service from 60 to 65.

“That’s an additional five years; then also looking at their remuneration.

“I think one of the questions that have arisen is when the teacher comes into the public service; in the past, they used to come in at Level 7, which is not the level that a graduate would come in.

“Part of the policy is that they should come in at Level 8; but of course this has to go through various processes and all that.’’

Osinbajo said that President Muhammadu Buhari had shown tremendous concern about teachers and how to improve the lot of teachers.

He said that the states had a role to play as issues of primary and secondary education were essentially the function of states.

“So, again, just to say that it is a tremendous honour and pleasure to meet with you and to congratulate you on your serving now for almost a whole year as the Maltina Teacher of the Year.

“To say that I hope and pray that you will do even more, achieve even more, attain even more and that you will not be discouraged.

“You won’t be distracted and that God will help you as you help so many others.’’

Earlier, Anani said she served at Government Girls Secondary School, Yola, Adamawa, as a youth corps member.

She said that afterwards, she got employed at Concordia College, Yola, in 2013.

Anani said that as an English Language teacher, she had prepared the students who performed excellently in examinations over the years.

On his part, Uzodinma told the vice president that Anani’s students benefited by virtue of the award as NBL built a block of six classrooms in the school.

Moreso, the vice president was celebrated as a great teacher for 40 years by some alumni students of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) who he taught Evidence Law in a period spanning from 1981 to 2021.

In a video footage, the vice president’s former students spoke one after another of Osinbajo’s teaching prowess and how he impacted on them as a Law lecturer.

Osinbajo expressed excitement at the gesture of his former students and said that teaching was something he did effortlessly because of his passion for it.

“I certainly did not expect to be celebrated in this way; as a matter of fact, I did not even realize until this moment that I am actually 40 years as a teacher.

“Yesterday, when I was doing a video for the Teachers’ Day, I was saying, well, I must be close to 40 years; I didn’t realise that it was 40 years since I started teaching.

“But, I am deeply grateful to all of you for the very kind words; your very generous remarks about me, about my humble effort to pass information to you.

“I was just speaking to Anani, who is the Maltina Teacher of the Year, 2020 Winner, that a lot of teaching is a calling and that the passion that one demonstrates and all of that, is really from deep down and I found that as a teacher, it was not a chore at all; it was not difficult for me at all,’’ he said.

The vice president said that he could spend long hours teaching or talking to his students because he thoroughly enjoyed it.

Osinbajo thanked them for the gesture and prayed that they be celebrated also by all of they had impacted on.

Among the vice president’s former students who celebrated him were the Deputy Chief of Staff, State House, Ade Ipaye and Chiedu Ugbo, Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has proposed to pay the sum of N75,000 per semester for undergraduates studying education courses in public institutions and N50,000 for those who enroll for a National Certificate In Education (NCE) programme.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, disclosed this on Tuesday during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day in Abuja as the Federal Government reintroduces bursary awards.

The Ministry also noted that it will liaise with the Ministries of Education in the 36 states including the FCT Education Board, to identify respective courses of study required by each state after which N150,000 will be awarded for undergraduates and N100,000 for NCE students.

“Beneficiaries must attend public institutions only and sign a bond to serve their state for five (5) years on graduation,” a statement from the ministry read.

According to Adamu, the fund would be sourced from UBEC, TETFund, and managed by the Federal Scholarship Board.

Beneficiaries will also be awarded a sponsorship to at least one refresher training per annum.

As part of efforts to further boost the quality of education in the country, Adamu said the Federal Government’s plans to establish a polytechnic in each of the states of the federation where none exists presently, are underway.

Construction is expected to take off in phases in Kaltungo, Bauchi State: Daura, Katsina State; Monguno, Borno State; Shendam, Plateau State, Wannune, Benue State; Ugep, Cross River State; Ayede, Oyo State; Ohodo, Enugu State; and Orogun in Delta State.

The minister added that the Federal Government has also approved the establishment of six new Federal Colleges of Education to be located in Iwo, Osun State: Ekhadolor, Edo State; Gidan Madi, Sokoto State; Odugbo, Benue State: Jama’are, Bauchi State and Isu, Ebonyi State.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) says primary and secondary school teachers in states yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage may soon be forced to withdraw their services.

Also, Dr. Nasir Idris, National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), on Tuesday, joined others to commend the doggedness of Nigerian teachers.

The NUT president gave the commendation at the 2021 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja on Tuesday.

Idris, who said Nigerian teachers had been able to excel through thick and thin, noted that the COVID-19 Pandemic compounded the problems of teachers in the country.

He, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for coming up with policy and programmes to change the fortune of teachers.

He commended the sustenance of the President’s Teachers and School Excellence Award and the continued hosting of the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration at the national level.

He also commended other stakeholders for their support and contributions toward the smooth observance of the day, “which is globally recognised”.

On the 2021 World Teachers’ Day theme, “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery”, the NUT president said it was apt, considering the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the education sector.

He said adopting the new normal meant that teachers needed to be adequately equipped, empowered and supported to be effective in carrying out the task of education recovery among others.

On some issues of concern to teachers and the education system, Nasir called for establishment of National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC).

He also raised concern over the heightened insecurity in schools across the country.

He called on the federal and state governments, and individuals to work together in restoring order and peaceful coexistence for safety of schools and host communities.

He also harped on implementation of National Minimum Wage by state governments and non-payment or delayed payment of primary school teachers’ salaries by states.

Idris urged the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that the teachers of Unity Schools were allowed to organise themselves and participate in NUT activities.

While praying for teachers and students, who have lost their lives to insecurity and other causes, Idris congratulated those who won awards at the event.

Meanwhile, Nigerian teachers were commended in a joint message from

Ms Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Ms Henrietta Fore, Executive Director of UNICEF, and Mr David Edwards, General Secretary of Education International.

They commended the exceptional dedication and courage of all teachers as well as their capacity to adapt and innovate under very challenging and uncertain conditions.

They noted that teachers were at the heart of global education recovery efforts and were critical in accelerating progress toward inclusive, equitable and quality education for every learner, in every circumstance.

They disclosed that Sub-Saharan Africa alone required 15 million more teachers to reach the education goals by 2030, saying surmounting the challenges required commitment, investment and innovation

They called for teachers’ well-being, adequate remuneration and safety, including their prioritisation for vaccination together with other critical workers for successful education recovery.

They lamented that nearly two year after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, many education systems were still facing significant disruptions.

According to them, students and teachers in close to 60 countries were affected by full or partial school closures.

“The pandemic has shone a light on the irreplaceable value of the teaching profession in society but also on the difficult working conditions facing many teachers.

“Teachers have been on the frontlines to ensure learning continuity when schools were closed and to provide socio-emotional support to their students, especially the most vulnerable ones.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the event was the presentation of awards ranging from cars, buses, refrigerators other prizes to outstanding teachers, administrators and schools across the 36 states of the federation.

There was also match past by various states, with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) coming first.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and other dignitaries were in attendance.

World Teachers’ Day is celebrated annually on October 5.