The Niger State Government has officially set the retirement age for teachers at 65 years, while professors in the state will now retire at 70 years. The new policy takes effect from January 1, 2026, the state governor, Umaru Bago, announced during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Minna.

The event, organised by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State Chapter, in collaboration with the Niger State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, drew stakeholders from across the education sector.

Governor Bago also approved the conditional reintroduction of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies in schools. He stressed that such payments must be closely supervised by the Ministry of Education to guarantee proper utilisation.

“My administration is committed to the welfare of teachers,” Bago said. “Primary school teachers’ recruitment and promotion will now be handled by the Local Government Service Commission, while the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) will only screen candidates and provide necessary information.”

In a move to boost morale, the governor announced a N20,000 wage award for all teachers, to be paid next month, and donated an 18-seater bus to the NUT, Niger State Chapter. He also approved a retreat for teachers progressing to Level 17. Bago commended teachers for their critical role in nation-building, adding, “I will remove teachers from the bureaucracy of the civil service to establish a standard teaching service.”

Speaking at the event, Comrade Adamu Mohammed Akayago, chairman of NUT, Niger State Chapter, said, “Teachers are not merely transmitters of knowledge; they are architects of the collective future. The welfare, dignity, and professional status of teachers must remain a priority for all stakeholders.”

Also addressing the audience, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Aishatu Nuhu Yalwa, said teachers are the key promoters of values and custodians of the nation’s future.

In a keynote address, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, Registrar and CEO of the National Examinations Council (NECO), described Nigeria as one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations, urging all stakeholders to unite in empowering the teaching force for the nation’s future.