On Sunday, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, permitted the speedy extension of the retirement age of academics within the state from 60 to 65 years and repair years raised from 35 to 40 years.
The governor additionally rewarded excellent academics within the state with money items of N46 million, and permitted an upward overview of Science Lecturers and Head of Division allowances.
He additionally permitted the speedy fee of the 2019 go away bonus areas to additional inspire the academics.
Mr Oyebanji disclosed these through the 2025 World Lecturers’ Day celebration held on the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
No fewer than 5,000 academics attended the colorful occasion, which was changed into a carnival.
The academics throughout completely different cadres, adorned in Ankara uniform, sang and danced to understand the governor’s teacher-friendly insurance policies.
Mr Oyebanji, who thanked the academics for his or her invaluable contributions to the expansion and improvement of the state, described them as the muse upon which the way forward for the state is constructed.
He affirmed that the gesture was a part of his administration’s efforts to inspire academics, recognise their immense contribution to the event of schooling, and improve their welfare consistent with the shared prosperity agenda of his administration.
Whereas explaining that the extension of the retirement age was in fulfilment of his promise to reposition the schooling sector and retain competent and skilled arms within the instructing occupation, the governor stated a committee can be set as much as oversee the elongation of the service yr and be sure that solely the agile people benefit from the privilege.
Mr Oyebanji additional assured the academics that his administration would proceed prioritising their welfare and creating an enabling setting for efficient instructing and studying.
“Let me reply to the request by the TUC chairman, I’ve been advised now that 2019 go away bonus was paid yesterday and you’ll begin receiving the alert by tomorrow.
“I’ve heard your yearnings with respect to the necessary age for retirement, and this has been permitted as beneficial, however just for ready and prepared academics. On the problem of science and head of departments’ allowances, I do know that the top of service is doing the overview of the allowances and I’ve instructed her to deliver it by subsequent week for approval,” he stated.
In April 2022, the late former President Muhammadu Buhari signed a invoice growing retirement age for Nigerian academics from 60 to 65 years and pensionable service years from 35 to 40, whichever is earlier.
Re-election
The governor additionally knowledgeable the gathering that he would search a second time period and solicited their continued assist.
“My pricey associates, this would be the solely alternative to satisfy in a gaggle like this earlier than the following governorship election. I due to this fact wish to formally inform you that I will probably be looking for a re-election to the workplace of the Governor for a second time period.
“I’ve been enormously inspired by the overwhelming goodwill, enthusiasm and assist that you’ve got proven me. I wish to guarantee you that, for you, it’s going to at all times get higher. I’m resolutely dedicated to my pact with you and all Ekiti employees. I due to this fact solicit your sustained assist and prayers going ahead,” the governor acknowledged.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Commissioner for Training, Olabimpe Aderiye, expressed gratitude to the governor for his efforts at repositioning the schooling sector and be sure that the academics’ welfare is taken care of.
The commissioner highlighted varied efforts of the governor at bettering the overall well-being of academics within the state to incorporate the discharge of over N1.6 billion as working grant to colleges within the final three years, fee of over N6.2 billion as UBEC counterpart fund to make sure renovations of faculties within the state, fee of over N1.5 billion for WAEC within the final years of the governors administration in addition to immediate fee examination charges for college students, placement, BECE and SS2 exams amongst others.
Of their separate goodwill messages, the Nationwide President of ASUSS, Sola Adigun, Nigeria Union of Lecturers (NUT), represented by Lateef Adesiyan, and Ekiti State NUT Chairman, Adedeji Egbeyemi, all recommended Governor Oyebanji for his continued demonstration of affection and fervour for academics and the instructing occupation within the state.
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They recommended and appreciated the governor for his important achievements within the schooling sector, which embody the sustenance of free and obligatory schooling within the state, the appointment of retired academics as political workplace holders, and the large renovation of faculties throughout the state.
Different points are the approval of profession development of graduate academics, upward overview of gratuities paid to retired academics, employment of 1,500 main college academics and a couple of,500 secondary college academics, amongst others.