RECENTLY, an appeal was made by the national president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Michael Alogba Olukoya, when he led NUT officials to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
The union leader said: “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.”
However, the request made by the teachers’ union on extension of retirement age at this time is misplaced.
This is because there are more important issues that need urgent attention other than demanding a frivolous extension of retirement age for Nigerian teachers under the current uncertain economic situation and unfriendly working conditions.
Elsewhere, in France, The Telegraph reported in 2010 that tens of thousands of French workers took to the streets to protest against government’s plans to raise the retirement age.
These were workers operating under a stable economy with attractive emoluments for them. But their counterparts in Nigeria are demanding an extension.
NUT should demand improved welfare and working condition for teachers, a workable pension scheme, affordable healthcare system for teachers, hazard and other allowances.
Abdullateef Tanko
and then