The Nigeria Union of Teachers has requested that the Federal Government of Nigeria review the retirement age of teachers in the country which is currently 60 years.

The President of NUT, Mr Muhammed Idris, made this request in Abuja on Thursday at a news conference to mark the 2018 World Teachers’ Day which was themed;  “The right to education means the right to a qualified teacher.”

Mr Muhammed explained that the Union wishes for the Federal Government to make the retirement age of teachers 65 years instead of the current 60 years retirement age.

The NUT president emphasised that it is necessary to retain qualified and experienced teachers in the system who will assist and monitor newly employed teachers to ensure that the standard of education does not reduce.

He stated that retiring teachers annually without providing corresponding recruitments to fill the vacant positions will affect the standard and quality of education adversely.

He also encouraged stakeholders in the education sector to support the union in seeking better structures for teachers’ salary so as to make the profession more appealing and more comfortable.

“Young graduates of education discipline and prospective teachers have ignored teaching profession because of the kind of salary teachers are receiving,” he added.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof Anthony Anwukah, said the government had made it mandatory for teachers to acquire their professional licence before December 2019.

He said the licence could be obtained from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.

Below is an extract of the speech by the Minister of State for Education;

“In order to enhance professionalism in the teaching profession, it is now required of every teacher to register and obtain a professional license from the TRCN. This is in tandem with international best practices as a means of updating the professionals on issues germane to their growth and development in the profession.”