…as Perm Sec inaugurates a high-powered committee
By Muhammad Abdullahi, Abuja
Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval for elongation of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years and length of service from 35 to 40 years for teachers in the 36 states of the country and FCT, the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA), has Monday inaugurated a high powered Committee to fast track the immediate domestication and implementation of the new policy in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Permanent Secretary Mr. Olusade Adesola who on behalf of the FCT Administration inaugurated the Standing Committee on the Implementation of the New Retirement Age and Length of Service for Teachers in the employ of the Federal Capital Territory Administration in the education, expressed confidence that the new policy will address the issue of brain drain as well as enrich teaching profession in the Federal Capital Territory.
He further explained that the inauguration of the Standing Committee became necessary following the release of a Service-Wide Guideline for the implementation of the new policy by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation.
The Permanent Secretary equally disclosed that all backlog of applications of beneficiaries that falls within the effective date of implementation being 1st January,2021 will be immediately processed, adding that this will ensure industrial harmony in the Territory.
He therefore charged all FCTA teachers to guard against abuse of the new policy by resisting the temptation to turn themselves into super teachers, by becoming unavailable to render the teaching service, for which they are being paid for, but rather reciprocate Government’s kind gesture by becoming extra dedicated and committed to their profession.
The Permanent Secretary also used the opportunity to appeal to the FCT wing of the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) to call off its ongoing strike, which is currently affecting primary schools managed by the Local Education Authorities(LEA) in the area councils.
According to the Permanent Secretary, the Committee which is to be chaired by the Director of FCTA Human Resource Management, Malam Mohammed Bashir, has the following terms of reference: collation of applications from interested officers, screening of applications to determine eligibility based on extant guidelines, verification of documents and forwarding of recommendations for consideration and approval respectively.
Responding on behalf of the Committee, the Chairman of the Committee, Malam Bashir thanked the Permanent Secretary for the confidence reposed in the Committee to carry out such a sensitive assignment. While assuring the Administration that the Committee will immediately get to work to ensure the new policy takes off immediately.