COVER
How Revised Teachers Retirement Age Policy Impacts FCT Schools
By Ben Atonko
Every May Day, the government is forced to make a pronouncement on workers welfare. Over the decades, the government has promulgated numerous policies to enhance workers welfare so workers always look up to May 1 as an avenue to exert pressure on the government to do as they would like.
In commemorating the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement, we ask, are the labour policies for the good of workers alone? Has the government adequate consideration for the public good when passing labour laws?
As May Day approaches, we take a look at the impact of one of the labour policies on the public as enunciated by the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
Maimuna was employed as a school teacher by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). She taught and rose to the rank of Assistant Director, Grade Level 15.
At his level, Maimuna is posted to the Quality Assurance Department. She looks frail yet she says she is still within the lawful service years. She no longer goes to teach. Her job now is to supervise school teachers to ensure that they follow laid down rules and standards in the teaching profession. But hardly does she go do the supervision work.
Maimuna is one among many teachers in FCT who have been taken out of the classroom, thereby shortening the number of classroom teachers.
While Maimuna is among those who leave the classroom due to job progression, many more leave on account of retirement, death and other reasons. There are those who are down with health conditions. Even as the classroom gets depleted of teachers, FCTA hardly employs.
Since 2016, FCTA has not done massive recruitment of teachers. It has continually done what it calls Replacement where few persons “connected” to top government officials are clandestinely slotted into the service.
The revised retirement policy
Following pressure from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), the Federal Government in 2022 extended the retirement age for teachers in public schools to 65 from 60.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act passed by the National Assembly.
Section 1 of the Act clearly states that teachers in Nigeria shall compulsorily retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.
Section 3 of the Act provides that the Public Service Rule or any Legislation that requires a person to retire from the Public Service at 60 years of age or after 35 years of service shall not apply to teachers in Nigeria.
This increase in the retirement age and service years is pursuant to Section 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The FCT situation
FCTA accepted this policy with a caveat that teachers will prove to be medically fit and would return to the classroom to teach at that age.
However, it has been observed that this ended on paper as these teachers do not go to the classroom. Not one has been asked to tender their medical report as a condition to be retained. Some can hardly walk, not to talk of doing any work.
While this is happening, many children in public schools in FCT are suffering badly due to shortage of teachers. Meet the head teacher of any school and ask them about the staff strength in their school and they will narrate a pathetic story.
There are 205 junior schools covered by the FCT Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme and 88 senior schools under the FCT Secondary Education Board.
Records show that there are about 4,000 FCTA teaching staff in junior secondary schools for the UBE programme. This translates to 20 teachers per school, i.e. 20 teachers to take 18 subjects for JSS 1, JSS 2 and JSS 3. It must be noted that there are subjects to be compulsorily taught every day. With an average of six arms per class and each arm having Mathematics and English Language taught in five sessions of 40 minutes per week, and other subjects taught in two sessions of 40 minutes per week, it means each arm has 42 hours of teaching per week.
It should be noted that each year (e.g JSS 1) has 42 hours by six arms equalling 252 hours of teaching every week. This further translates to a total of 756 teaching sessions for JSS 1, JSS 2 and JSS 3. This invariably means 20 teachers having a total of 37.8 sessions of 40 minutes each for Years 1, 2 and 3 respectively.
This is definitely too much work load for anyone to handle hence the engagement of PTA teachers who are paid less than peanuts.
In 2001 a report produced by FCTA tagged “Teacher (Manpower) Requirement for Junior Secondary Schools” showed that there was a shortfall of 5,001 teachers across the 126 junior secondary schools in FCT at the time.
The statistics showed that JSS Sabon Gari, Gwagwalada alone lacked 150 teachers. JSS Jikwoyi in the municipal council needed 132 teachers while JSS Kubwa 1 was without 101 teachers. ADJSS was minus 96 teachers, JSS Kubwa 2 was minus 89, JSS Zuba 77 teachers and JSS Peyi 71 teachers. The school with the least problem was JSS Mamagi with a shortfall of six teachers.
What this means is that all FCT schools could not offer or partially offered many subjects on the curriculum. The picture has not changed since then. Efforts to lay hands on current data were unsuccessful but the situation might be worse due to population surge.
Out of the 4,000 teachers said to be under UBEB, a large number are out of the classroom because they are to do quality assurance and their retirement age has increased. The salary of one of such staff can employ as many as five fresh teachers.
A school manager in FCT was heard lamenting that while the government has failed to recruit young and willing hands into the classroom, it has come up with a policy that makes old, weak, sickly and tired hands idle while energetic, ambitious and job seeking youths are abandoned.
Another head teacher who did not want to be named here said the Education Secretariat of FCTA is aware of the problems because every month, school heads send reports to management, giving the situation in their schools, yet no action is taken.
She painted a gloomy picture: “In UBEB, very few teachers are young. Many are old. In a whole term, a child pays N3, 500. From this, we pay PTA teachers.
“Last employment was in 2016. Only 300 teachers were employed. There are 17 subjects taught by different teachers in my school. Many subjects have no teachers. Classes are without seats. Children sit on the floor.”
She said sometimes authorities hide under employing teachers, slot in names of associates or friends or relatives. Some may have no business coming in the education sector. Once they are employed, they are deployed to the Education Secretariat, Area 11 (head office) – they do not teach at all.
According to her, every year, many teachers leave, yet no employment to fill up vacancies.
Parents’ burden
Nearly every school in FCT lacks teachers. More than half of those teaching are in the employ of the Parent-Teacher-Association (PTA), passing a huge burden to parents and guardians.
To be able to pay the PTA Teachers, as they called, school heads come up with different levies for parents to pay. A parent in FCT may pay a PTA levy of N3,500 or N5000 and other levies besides other numerous demands from the school authorities.
A parent must buy detergent, disinfectant, electric bulbs, brooms every term, apart from paying for feeding of children in the boarding house.
A parent who declined to be named lamented that the problem in public schools in FCT is not limited to shortage of teachers. School facilities like classrooms, furniture, audio-visual aids are grossly inadequate. In some communities, children sit under trees to receive instructions. The children are highly vulnerable to the elements.
“Where classrooms are available, they are dilapidated. These problems cut across both urban and rural schools. Different FCT ministers gave contracts for projects that were not executed or uncompleted.
“Go to the Kubwa, Nyanya, Bwari, Kwali, Abaji, you’ll see the same problem of old and outdated structures. For a long time, the FCT administration has ignored its schools. We are tired of paying levies,” he stated.
Recently, the administration began renovation of school structures. Parents are optimistic that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike will equally give serious consideration to the problem of inadequate teachers in the classroom.
“Without delay, he should tackle this thing about teachers massively leaving classrooms to become quality controllers whereas there is nothing to control. If there are no teachers in the classroom, what can they control?” said a school teacher.
As another May Day approaches, the government is expected to review labour policies and make amends where need be. The Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act is one of such.
By Mike Odiakose, Abuja
Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello will spend the 2024 Christmas and 2025 New Year days in Kuje prison, Abuja, following refusal of his bail application by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Justice Maryann Anenih yesterday adjourned the case until Jan.
29, Feb. 25, and Feb. 27, 2025 for the continuation of the hearing.The former governor is standing trial, along with two others, in an N110 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Anenih had refused to grant a bail application filed by Bello, saying it was filed prematurely.
The judge admitted Umar Oricha and Abdulsalam Hudu, to bail in the sum of N 300 million each with two sureties.
Justice Anenih, while delivering a ruling said, having been filed when Bello was neither in custody nor before the court, the instant application was incompetent.
“Consequently, the instant application having been filed prematurely is hereby refused,” she said.
Recalling the arguments before the court on the bail application, the judge had said, “before the court is a motion on notice, dated and filed on Nov. 22.
“The 1st Defendant seeks an order of this honourable court admitting him to bail pending the hearing and determination of the charge.
“That he became aware of the instant charge through the public summons. That he is a two-term governor of Kogi State. That if released on bail, he would not interfere with the witnesses and not jump bail.”
She said the Defendant’s Counsel, JB Daudu, SAN, had told the court that he had submitted sufficient facts to grant the bail.
He urged the court to exercise its discretion judicially and judiciously to grant the bail.
Opposing the bail application, the Prosecution Counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, argued that the instant application was grossly incompetent, having been filed before arraignment.
He said it ought to be filed after arraignment but the 1st Defendant’s Counsel disagreed, saying there was no authority
“That says that an application can only be filed when it is ripe for hearing.”
Justice Anenih held that the instant application for bail showed that it was filed several days after the 1st defendant was taken into custody.”
Citing the ACJA, the judge said the provision provided that an application for bail could be made when a defendant had been arrested, detained, arraigned or brought before the court.
Bello had filed an application for his bail on November 22 but was taken into custody on November 26 and arraigned on Nov. 27.
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
Conference of Autochthonous Ethnic Nationalities Community Development Association (CONAECDA) has called on the federal government to intensify efforts in the resettlement of displaced persons in their ancestral homes.
The organization made this call at the end of its conference held in Jos, the Plateau State Capital weekend.
Thirty resolutions were passed covering security, economy, politics, governance, culture, languages, human rights and indigenous peoples’ rights among others.
The Conference President, Samuel Achie and Secretary Suleman Sukukum in a communique noted that the conference received and discussed reports from communities based on which resolutions were reached on securing, reconstruction, rehabilitation and returning communities displaced by violence across the Middle Belt.
“After considering the reports from communities displaced by violent conflicts, conference resolved, and called on government to focus on providing security to deter further displacements.
“Call on government to provide security to enable communities to return. Government and donor partners should assist in reconstructing and returning displaced communities,” the communique stated.
The GOC 3 Armoured Division Nigeria Army represented by Lt Col Abdullahi Mohammed said the Nigerian Army is committed to working closely with communities to achieve a crime-free society, urging communities to support them with credible information.
“Security is a collective effort, and we cannot do it alone, the community plays a crucial role in ensuring safety.
“We urge everyone here not to shield or protect individuals involved in criminal activities. Transparency and collaboration, together, with maximum cooperation, we can achieve peace, security, and prosperity for our society,” the GOC stated.
The National Coordinator of CONECDA, Dr. Zuwaghu Bonat in his address at the gathering noted that the theme of this year’s program, Returning, Resettling, and Rehabilitating Displaced Communities, was chosen as a wakeup call on the federal government.
He maintained that the organization is aware that President Bola Tinubu has expressed a commitment to ensuring that displaced communities return to their ancestral lands.
He said similarly, some state governments, including Plateau State, have set up committees to address the lingering matter.
The coordinator however cautioned, “It is critical that we avoid generalizations or profiling. For instance, Not all Muslims are involved in terrorism. The overwhelming majority of Muslims in Nigeria are peaceful and reject extremist ideologies.
“We also know that some terrorists exploit religion to mobilize support or rationalize their actions. However, their atrocities – slaughtering women, cutting open pregnant mothers, and killing children show a profound disregard for humanity and God. Normal human beings would not commit such acts.
“We must also be cautious about lumping banditry with terrorism. While statistics indicate that many bandits and kidnappers may share similar ethnic backgrounds, kidnapping has now evolved into a profit-driven enterprise. This distinction is vital to address the root causes effectively,” he stated.
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang represented by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Middle Belt Nationalities, Hon Daniel Kwada noted that the conference was apt to addressed the various underlying issues bedeviling the region and its people.
“We in the Middle Belt have long been standing at the crossroads of Nigeria’s complex history. Despite our tireless efforts to stabilize this nation, we have faced immense challenges, including underdevelopment, security issues, and marginalization.
“Often, we are unfairly maligned, but gatherings like this offer a chance to change the narrative.
“Such conferences set the tone for better discussions. They allow us to drive processes that bring development, ensure security, and elevate our people to greater heights,” Mutfwang noted.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has called on banks to reinforce their corporate governance principles and risk management frameworks to boost investor confidence during the ongoing recapitalisation exercise.
Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director-General, SEC, said this at the yearly workshop of the Capital Market Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CAMCAN) held in Lagos.
The theme of the workshop is: “Recapitalisation: Bridging the Gap between Investors and Issuers in the Nigerian Capital Market”.
Agama, represented by the Divisional Head of Legal and Enforcement at the SEC, Mr John Achile, stated that the 2024–2026 banking sector recapitalisation framework offers clear guidance for issuers while prioritising the protection of investors’ interests
He restated the commission’s commitment towards ensuring transparency and efficiency in the recapitalisation process.
The director-general stated that the key to bridging the gap between issuers and investors remained the harnessing of innovation for inclusive growth.
In view of this, Agama said, “SEC, through the aid of digital platform, is exploring the integration of blockchain technology for secure and transparent transaction processing to redefine trust in the market.”
He added that the oversubscription of most recapitalisation offers in 2024 reflects strong investor confidence.
To sustain this momentum, the director-general said that SEC had intensified efforts to enhance disclosure standards and corporate governance practices.
According to him, expanding financial literacy campaigns and collaborating with fintech companies to provide low-entry investment options will democratise access to the capital market.
He assured stakeholders of the commission’s steadfastness in achieving its mission of creating an enabling environment for seamless and transparent capital formation.
“Our efforts are anchored on providing issuers with clear guidelines and maintaining open lines of communication with all market stakeholders, reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks through digitalisation.
“We also ensure timely review and approval of applications, and enhancing regulatory oversight to protect investors while promoting market integrity,” he added.
Agama listed constraints to the exercise to include: addressing market volatility, systemic risks, limited retail participation as well as combating skepticism among investors who demand greater transparency and accountability.
He said: “We are equally presented with opportunities which include leveraging technology to deepen financial inclusion and enhance market liquidity.
“It also involves developing innovative financial products, such as green bonds and sukuk, to attract diverse investor segments.
“The success of recapitalisation efforts depends on collaboration among regulators, issuers, and investors.”
Speaking on market infrastructure at the panel session, Achile said SEC provides oversight to every operations in the market, ranging from technology innovations to market.
He stated that the commission is committed to transparency and being mindful of the benefits and risks associated with technology adoption.
Achile noted that SEC does due diligence to all the innovative ideas that comes into the market to ensure adequate compliance with the requirements.
On the rising unclaimed dividend figure, Achile blamed the inability of investors to comply with regulatory requirements and information gap.
He noted that SEC had done everything within its powers to ensure that investors receive their dividend at the appropriate time.
He, however, assured that the commission would continue to strengthen its dual role of market regulation and investor protection to boost confidence in the market.
In her welcome address, the Chairman of CAMCAN, Mrs Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma, said banks’ recapitalisation is not just a regulatory requirement, but an opportunity to rebuild trust, strengthen the capital market, and drive sustainable growth.
Joel-Nwokeoma stated that the recent recapitalisation in the banking sector had brought to the fore the need for a more robust and inclusive capital market.
She added that as banks seek to strengthen their balance sheets and improve their capital adequacy ratios, it is imperative to create an environment that fosters trust, transparency, and cooperation between investors and issuers.
The chairman called for collaboration to bridge the gap between investors and issuers to create a more inclusive and vibrant Nigerian capital market.She said: “we must work together to strengthen corporate governance and risk management practices in banks, enhance disclosure and transparency requirements for issuers.” NAN
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