AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Nigerian Union of Teachers has urged the governors to implement the 65-year-retirement age for teachers in a bid to preserve good and experienced hands in the primary and secondary schools’ system in the country.
They made the call in Ibadan at the 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of NUT with the theme, ‘Terrorism and attacks on schools: Effect on education and Nigeria’s economy.’
The NUT and the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, also stressed the need for the Federal Government to raise the stake on security in schools especially as the 2023 elections campaign commences.
According to Bagudu, adequate security in school is necessary for a safe environment and effective teaching and learning during the campaigns and elections.
The governor warned that tragedy might befall the education sector in the country if hijacked by terrorists.
Noting that education is the custodian of the nation’s future, he said that the critical sector should not be disrupted owing to insecurity or electioneering.
He said that those taking arms illegally or involved in criminality should be brought to justice, while also calling for international outreach and a network of support to ensure adequate protection of the educational sector across the nation during and after the 2023 poll.
Audu Amba, NUT National President, lamented that insecurity continued to undermine the effective delivery of education in Nigeria with the school system bearing the brunt of attacks by terrorists and bandits.
Alba noted that some teachers and students had been displaced while several others had been killed.
He, therefore, tasked government and other stakeholders to ensure the protection of schools from terror attacks.
The Chairman of NUT in Oyo State, Raji Ismail, urged Governor Seyi Makinde to approve the implementation of Act of National Assembly which approved 65 years as retirement age and 40 years length of service for teachers in the state as assented by the President.
In his view, this would assist the system to retain the best brains in the education sector.
Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, said that attacks were not restricted to primary and secondary schools only but higher institutions as well.
Ajiboye stated that a total of 1,436 children were abducted from schools in Nigeria between January and September 2021, stressing, “These attacks on schools have left explosive remnants of war at or near schools, including unexploded mortars or artillery shells instilled fear in the minds of students and parents and thereby reduced school enrolment and learning outcome in children.
“Abducted female teachers and students become sex slaves and suicide bombers.”
