The Nigeria Union of Teachers has commended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the harmonised retirement age of teachers’ bill into law.

The NUT made the commendation in a letter of appreciation to Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The letter was signed by NUT’s Secretary General, Mike Ene, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

The union said the move would impact the teaching profession, and lauded Mr Echono’s efforts in the emergence of the Act during his stint as Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education.

The letter dated April 13, said that the move would motivate teachers to deliver more effective service in the classroom.

“It is great that teachers of pre-primary, primary and secondary schools enjoy the extended service years and higher retirement age like their counterparts at the tertiary level.

“We are also confident that this great milestone will have an enormous turn around in the Nigerian education system.

“The impact of this Act will raise the bars of primary and secondary school education through the additional five years of mentorship by the senior and experienced teachers on the junior teachers in the primary and secondary schools,” the letter said.

The new law extends teachers retirement age from 60 to 65, while service period has been moved from 35 to 40 years.

(NAN)