Cross River state Governor, Ben Ayade, has announced the extension of service for public primary and secondary school teachers in the state for an additional five years.
The extension follows the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, and was confirmed in a circular signed by the state’s Head of Service, Mr Timothy Akwaji. The circular states that the extension will take effect from May 1, 2023, and that primary and post-primary school teachers in the state will retire on attainment of sixty-five or forty years of service, whichever comes first.
The news was greeted with jubilation among teachers in the state, who hailed the governor for the extension, which they described as one of his most cherished legacies. The governor has been praised by many stakeholders, including teachers and opinion leaders, for approving and gazetting the extension.
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In line with the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which aims to improve the standard of education in the country, the extension of service will allow experienced teachers to continue to impart knowledge to students. The move is expected to benefit both teachers and students, as teachers will have more time to develop their skills and expertise, while students will benefit from their experience and knowledge.
The announcement has been seen as a positive step towards improving education in the state and is expected to have a positive impact on the quality of education in Cross River.
