Benue State Government has approved the implementation of a new retirement age and length of service for all categories of teachers in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Friday.
According to him, the decision was in line with the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers by the Benue State House of Assembly and signed into law by former governor Samuel Ortom, adding that the implementation of the new process would be backdated to May this year.
The statement said, “the new implementation takes effect from May, 2023, following the enactment of the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers by the Benue State House of Assembly, which was signed into law by the outgone administration.
“Under the new approval, the new age of retirement for the teaching profession is sixty five (65) years with the length of service pegged at forty (40) years, depending on whichever is earlier for the teachers.”
The statement noted that “with the new development, there will no longer be boundaries in the implementation of the harmonized retirement age/length of service for Education officers/Teachers.
“However, those who are not interested in elongation scheme are free to apply for retirement from the service, in line with extant Public Service Rules.
“Furthermore, the Education Officers, Teachers and the general public are to note that, the Harmonized Retirement Age Law 2023, is superior to any guideline on the subject.”