Teacher’s Retirement Age, Service Years Extended by Five years 

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said the bill which seeks to increase the retirement age and the service years of teachers had been assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Shehu disclosed this in a statement on Friday, noting that his principal assented to the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had, on January 20, 2021, approved a bill that sought to extend the retirement age and the service years of teachers.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, had said the bill sought to give legal backing for the approval of the new retirement age from 60 to 65 years for teachers and extend their period of service from 35 to 40 years.

He added that the bill would also introduce bursary awards, special rural posting allowances, and other items which will encourage brilliant Nigerians to take up teaching jobs.

Having been transmitted to the National Assembly, on November 9 2022, lawmakers in the House of Representatives passed the bill.

As President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the bill, the retirement age and years of service of teachers have been extended by five years. 

The presidential aide further revealed that the President has assented to the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, 2022.

“This Act repeals the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, Cap. A17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enacts the Animal Diseases (Control) Act for prevention, detection, control and eradication of infectious and contagious transboundary and zoonotic animal diseases, prevention of antimicrobial resistance through the control and regulation of the use and administration of veterinary biologics, veterinary medicinal products and chemicals in animals, animal products, medicated animal feeds, sales and distribution of pet foods, veterinary medical devices, other veterinary products, and for the enhancement of animal welfare and food safety,” he said.

Similarly, Buhari assented to the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Act, 2021, which establishes and gives a legal framework for the Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil in Kano State, as a degree-awarding institution to provide academic and professional training.

“The Academy will be headed by a commandant, not below the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police and shall be appointed by the Police Service Commission on the recommendation of the Inspector General of Police as stipulated in Section 8 of the Act,” Shehu stated.

The President also assented to the Nigeria Law Reform Commission Act, 2022; the National Biotechnology Development Agency Act, 2022; and the Federal Medical Centre, Hong (Establishment) Act, 2022.