To commemorate the 2020 World Teachers’ Day, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a special salary scale and new retirement age for primary and secondary school teachers in Nigeria.
The World Teachers’ Day is held annually on October 5 since 1994 to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who announced this in Abuja Monday as part of the activities to mark the day announced, said Buhari has increased service years from 35 to 40 for the teachers.
However, the President did not specify the special salary scale for teachers, though they enjoy the New Minimum Wage pegged at N30,000.
Buhari explained that the implementation of the new teachers’ salary scheme was to encourage the teachers in delivering better services.
Over the years, Nigerian teachers have continued to agitate among others, an increase in their retirement age, welfare, and salaries.
The World Teachers’ Day is co-convened every year by UNESCO, UNICEF, the International Labour Organization and Education International.
This year, UNESCO says, the World Teachers’ Day is celebrating teachers with the theme “Teachers: Leading in crisis, re-imagining the future.”