…N10bn for census
To commemorate the 2020 World Teachers day which is being celebrated today October 5th, President Buhari has approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for teachers across the country.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, announced the approval for the special salary scale at a ceremony in Abuja to mark World Teachers Day. He also announced that President Buhari has granted approval for an increase in the number of service years for the teachers from 35 to 40.
Adamu said the decision was taken as part of efforts to ensure better productivity and efficient service delivery.
President Buhari in his speech read by the Minister, said: “Government notes the emergency situation in our educational system with particular reference to the dearth of qualified and dedicated teachers to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at all levels of our educational system.
To address these challenges and set our country on the path of industrialisation where our educational system will produce the needed skills and manpower, I have approved the following:
The reintroduction of bursary award to education students in Universities and College of Education with assurance of automatic employment upon graduation, payment of stipends to Bachelor of Education students as well as granting them automatic employment after graduation is now a government policy.
The Tertiary Education Fund will now fund teaching practice in Universities and Colleges of Education, special salary scale for teachers in basic and secondary schools including provisions for rural posting allowance, science teachers allowance and peculiar allowance.
Special teacher pension scheme to enable the teaching profession retain its experienced talent as well as extend teachers retirement age to 65 years and teachers service years to 40, create a career path policy for teaching profession in Nigeria and, teachers conversion programme and ICT training to mitigate the current dearth of qualified teachers in the school system.”
In another development, President Buhari has approved N10 billion for the next phase of the Enumeration Area Demarcation exercise in the remaining 546 Local Government Area of the country.
This was disclosed on Monday by acting Chairman of the National Population Commission, Eyitayo Oyetunji during a press conference in Abuja.
“I am however pleased to announce that His Excellency, Mr President has reaffirmed his commitment towards the successful completion of the EAD and indeed towards the conduct of the next census by approving the release of the total sum of N10 billion for the continuation of the EAD in the remaining 546 local governments in the country,” he said.
He said President Buhari approved an additional N4.5 billion in the 2021 budget for the completion of the exercise, as part of the preparations for the next census.
According to Oyetunji, the exercise will outline areas in the local government areas into small geographical units called Enumeration Areas where the NPC will collate an accurate list of infrastructural facilities and households.
“The President has graciously followed this up by a further approval of an additional N4.5 billion to be included in the 2021 budget for the completion of the exercise as part of the preparations for the next census,” added.
