The Senate has resuscitated the bill seeking to increase the retiring age of staff of tertiary institutions, an important component of the federal government agreement with the various tertiary institution unions two decades ago.
The bill seeks to increase the compulsory retiring age of staff of tertiary institutions – universities, polytechnics and collages of education – from the current 60 years to 65 years and 70 years for university professors.
The amendments constitute a fulfilment of a part of the agreements reached by the federal government and the central trade unions of the tertiary institutions, particularly the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in 1990.
The bill had been passed by the 6th Senate and House of Representatives but it was withdrawn for a correction to separate the amendments into two categories since different acts govern the university and other tertiary institutions categories.
In accordance with a new Senate rule, the corrected version was represented to the Senate and passed through second reading on Wednesday.
“The bill will unarguably raise the staff morale and improve the quality of academic work in our tertiary institution,” said Uche Chukwumerije, the Chairman of senate committee on education and author of the bill.
The bill will be put forward for a public hearing and later represented to the Senate for third reading and passage within a four weeks time frame given by Senate President David Mark.
When passed, Chukwuerije said, the amendments will enhance Nigeria’s academic reservoir, reduce talent waste due to early retirement and remove depression and alienations felt by professors who retire too early.
Despite the advancement, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzie, ASUU chairman, said the current strike will continue until they get the part of the agreement demanding adequate funding for the universities.-DAILY TIMES
No comments:
Post a Comment