FG inaugurates panel on special salary scale for teachers

The Federal Government has inaugurated a national implementation committee on the revitalisation and repositioning of the teaching profession in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, in commemoration of the World Teachers Day on October 5, approved a special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools. He also extended teachers’ retirement age to 65 years and the duration of service from 35 to 40 years and approved payment of an allowance for rural posting and science teachers.

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who performed the ceremony in Abuja, yesterday, said the neglect of teachers in the country had resulted in brain drain, poor incentives, and poor quality graduates.

According to Adamu, President Buhari recognises the role of the teacher as a major enabler of the nation’s development. “It was, therefore, with this clear understanding of the role of the teacher in the emerging knowledge economy and the need to attract and retain the best brains in our educational institution that the President approved a range of incentives to revitalize and reposition the teaching profession”, he said.

Adamu listed other incentives as “Enhanced entry point for teachers in the civil service; restriction of entry into the teaching profession to only highly gifted, academically outstanding students/scholars with the right attitudinal and emotional disposition; special teacher pension scheme to enable the teaching profession to retain its experienced talents and creation of a career path policy for the teaching profession in Nigeria.”

Adamu, who explained that the approval of the incentives followed extensive review and consultation with critical stakeholders, assured teachers in the country that the ministry would provide the necessary support to ensure smooth implementation of the policies.

“In this regard, we shall be presenting a memorandum at the next national council meeting holding before the end of the year on establishment-related issues derived from the policy directives.

“We are also interfacing with the office of the attorney general of the federation for the re-introduction of the bill that was passed by the 8th National Assembly which was not assented to by the president for legislative action by the 9th assembly”, the minister said.

He charged the committee on the need to reverse years of neglect of teachers and begin the process of revamping the nation’s educational system to be responsive to the 21st-century demands.