Isiyaku Ahmed
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State has approved the implementation of 65 years as retirement age for all categories of teachers in the state.
This was disclosed during Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Award Night, as part of the workers’ day celebration, which took place at Open Theatre, Government House, Kano, Saturday, assuring that all the policies would be sustained.
“The length of service for our teachers has been 35 years, I am glad to inform this gathering that, we have now increased the duration to 40 years,” he disclosed.
According to Ganduje, “You are all aware that federal government has made a pronouncement by increasing the retirement age and the length of service of teachers serving under federal government. So, we don’t want teachers in Kano state to be left behind.”
Arguing that, Kano state teachers were not onlookers, not bench sitters, not cheaters but teachers, encouraging that, “In order to promote their commitment and motivate our teachers, Kano state has now decided to increase the length of service from 30 years to 35 years. To also increase the retirement age for our teachers from 60 years to 65 years.”
He made it categorically clear that, all teachers from primary to secondary schools and tertiary institutions, would benefit from the new development, adding that, “…this is an innovation that we cherish and it will be sustained.”
The Governors’ spokesman, Abba Anwar in a statement obtained by Stallion Times, Sunday, said to further express the importance his administration attaches to teachers, Governor Ganduje maintained that:
“Our teachers are our fathers. They are the backbone of sustainable development. Because without education there is no development. Then if we are to sustain our system of education, then their welfare is absolutely necessary.”
Reminding the discerning minds that:
“You could recall some two or three years back, we promoted our teachers and paid them increased salary for their promotion. Which affected the payment of our monthly salaries with over N500m. That is unprecedented,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Kano State Branch of NLC, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir said: “Sir upon what you have done to us and what you have been doing to us, like Oliver Twist, we will ask for more.”
“The NLC found it necessary to honour not only Civil servants who were dedicated and committed to their work, but also workers and employees at the private sector.
“We are awarding those that deserve to be honoured with certificates of excellence by the NLC, while some of them will go home with cash from N50,000 to N100,000 each,” he said.
Ado-Minjibir lauded Ganduje’s administration for effective security management and containing the second wave of Covid-19 in the state.
