NUT lauds NASS on teachers’ service years extension bill

THE National Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Teachers has pledged the total support and commitment towards the realisation of the Bill seeking an extension of the years of service for teachers currently before the Federal House of Representatives.

The bill seeks upward review where teachers would now serve 40 years against the current 35 years; as well as 65 years of age against the present 60 years retirement age.

Spokesman of NUT, Mr Emmanuel Hwande, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said rising from its NEC meeting held at the NUT National Head Office, Abuja, the Union praised the leadership and members of the House of Representative for this all-important bill; having taken the bill through its first and second readings.

Presenting the progress report on the bill seeking an extension of years of service to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union, the National President Comrade Dr Nasir Idris told members of the high expectations from Nigerian teachers on the Extension of Years of Service Bill.

The teaching profession he said, “is in the rank of professions such as Judges of our Courts and lecturers in our Universities who are enjoying an extension of service years due to their years of rigorous training and experience acquired in the course of work; thus cannot be waved aside.

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“We, therefore, call for the upward review where teachers will now serve 40 years against the current 35 years; as well as 65 years of age against the present 60 years,” he said.

Comrade Nasir Idris further expressed the Union’s confidence in the leadership of the House of Representative and urged members of the National Assembly to give the Bill favourable and speedy consideration now that it is at the committee stage.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has commiserated with the Governor and people of Kebbi State over the death of three schoolgirls as a result of food poisoning.

The condolence letter addressed to the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Bagudu, NUT President, Dr Idris described the incident as a rude shock, urging the family of deceased to take solace in God.