Lawmaker Hail Senate For Passing Retirement Age Of Teachers For Concurrence

By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo 

The Senate has concurred with the House of Representatives on the retirement age of teachers and Educational Officers bill 2019 sponsored by Honourable Adesegun Abdel-Majid Adekoya, representing Ijebu-North/Ijebu-East/Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency.

Meanwhile, Leading the debate earlier, Honourable Abdel-Majid said that over the years, teachers had been clamouring for the extension of their retirement age as many of them still remain active and have more to contribute even beyond the 60 years age limit.

He maintained that the nation's education is disadvantaged and have lost quality teachers due to early retirement of teachers without commensurate recruitment to fill their space.

The lawmakers said that most retired teachers still have a lot to offer and were often employed by private schools to tap into their wealth of experience, arguing that the older the teachers, the more patient and caring they become in attending to pupils and students' needs, and the more likely they show empathy and understanding to their needs.

According to him, "the business of disseminating knowledge gets better with age, and the older the teachers, the more experienced they become, and their temperament also gets better in understanding the needs of the pupils and students. They also have more time to guide and mentor younger teachers along the line"

Abdel-Majid said that "the extension would also serve as a viable means of curbing the challenge of low manpower in public schools.

Amebo Feeds Blog recalls that last week, President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, had promised the Speaker House of Representatives,  Aminu Dogara , that the Senate would fast-track its work on both the Police Trust Fund Bill, Retirement Age Of Teachers and Education  Officers in Nigeria Bill, 2019

Below are other bills approved for concurrence at the Senate sitting 

3. Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers snd Education Officers in Nigeria Bill, 2019 (HB. 1554) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers and Education Officers in Nigeria Bill, 2019 (HB. 1554) was read the Second Time.

Saraki said: "Due to the high rate of retirement without commiserate recruitment, a vacuum was being created."