The Cross River State Government has assured teachers and organised labour of a fair, transparent and lawful review of the implementation of the new retirement age policy for teachers.
The assurance comes amid concerns raised by stakeholders over the policy’s implementation, with the state government pledging to address the issues through due process and in line with existing laws.
The Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, made the statement during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Calabar on Tuesday, where he said the administration of Governor Bassey Otu was carefully reviewing the concerns raised by stakeholders to ensure the implementation process aligns with extant laws and serves the best interests of teachers and the education sector.
“We are committed to ensuring that the implementation of the new retirement age policy is fair, transparent and in accordance with the law. Government appreciates the invaluable contributions of teachers to the development of Cross River State and will continue to pursue policies that protect their welfare while strengthening the education sector,” Odey said.
He added that the government remained open to constructive engagement with organised labour and other stakeholders, stressing that dialogue was the most effective way to address the issues raised rather than creating unnecessary anxiety over the policy.
The deputy governor urged labour unions and education stakeholders to remain calm while consultations continue, assuring them that the state government was determined to arrive at an outcome that would be equitable, legally sound and beneficial to the education sector.
Speaking on behalf of organised labour, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Gregory Olayi said the unions’ concerns were prompted by a circular they believed introduced additional conditions, including competency tests, for teachers seeking to benefit from the retirement age extension.
According to him, the Federal Government’s policy extending the retirement age of teachers to 65 years or 40 years of pensionable service does not make competency tests a prerequisite. He appealed to the state government to implement the policy in line with the nationally approved guidelines.
He noted that both the government and organised labour will continue to dialogue and resolve the issues as well as ensure the retirement policy is implemented in the overall interest of teachers and the education sector in Cross River State.