Senate Gets Buhari’s Bill To Extend Teachers’ Retirement Age By Five Years

The Senate, on Wednesday, received President Muhammadu Buhari’s Executive Bill which seeks to increase the retirement age of Nigerian teachers from 60 to 65 years.

The Bill also proposes an increase in the years of service for teachers from 35 to 40 years.

In a letter read by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on the floor of the Upper Chamber, titled: Transmission of the harmonised retirement age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2021 to the National Assembly for consideration, President Buhari said: “Pursuant to Section 58, subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I forward herewith The Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill, 2021, for consideration by the Senate.

“The Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Bill 2021 seeks to increase the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, and also increase the possible years of service from 35 to 40 years.

“While appreciating your usual expeditious consideration of this submission, please, accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

Also, Lawan on Wednesday referred the President’s request for the confirmation of Maj.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to the Committees on Defense and Army for further legislative work.

The Senate Committee on Defence, chaired by Aliyu Wamakko, was named the lead committee to screen the newly appointed Army Chief.

President Buhari had, in October 2020, approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for teachers in commemoration of World Teachers’ Day.