Medical fitness mandatory as policy on teachers’ retirement age takes off

To enjoy the new retirement age of 65 years or 40 years in government service which kicked off last month, teachers must scale a newly introduced medical hurdle to show they are fit to continue beyond the former age 60 years or 35 years in service.

“It should be noted that the new retirement age/years of service is not automatic; as officers will be required to demonstrate fitness after medical examination, and those found to be unfit will be advised to retire accordingly,” Arc. Sonny Echono, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education said in a memo dated 26th January, 2021.

Also, the memo added, only education officers and teachers are to be affected by the new policy approved by the Federal Executive Council.

There are already speculations that public servants with education qualifications may begin to work their way back to the classrooms as they near the retirement age.

Echono announced in the memo that the new policy took off last January.

Everyday.ng reports that FEC, two weeks ago, gave approval to the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021, which seeks to give legal backing to the current administration’s measure to enhance the teaching profession.

It is not exactly known if the 2021 Budget covers the new development, since the National Assembly is not known to have passed the bill for President Buhari’s assent into law.

Recall that the Minister of Education after the decision of FEC presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja two weeks ago, gave the impression that the new policy would await passage of the proposed law by the National Assembly.

Other incentives on the table contained in the bill, according to Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Education Minister, include the introduction of bursary award, special rural posting allowances and other measures to attract the best brains to the profession.

Adamu’s words on these and others: “This memo that was approved for education is a giant step towards what we set out to do towards the end of last year with the approval by Mr President of some special packages for teachers. So, at the meeting today, the council approved that bill which will be called Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill, 2021 to be sent to the National Assembly for enactment into law. So, all the promises the President made and all the approvals that he has given me will now begin to put into effect because this is a legal backing that is required for it.

“I want to assure teachers that this government will do to them what has never been done. This is the first biggest step.
“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’, roll posting allowance, science teacher allowance, and of course we have Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) under us that has professionalised 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.”