President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to four bills that were recently passed by the National Assembly, including the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022.
According to a statement issued on Friday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari also assented to the Nigeria Law Reform Commission Act, 2022; National Biotechnology Development Agency Act, 2022; and Federal Medical Centre, Hong (Establishment) Act, 2022.
The new law setting retirement age for teachers stipulates that teachers in Nigeria, unaffected by any other retirement rules in any other statute, including the Public Service Rule, will compulsorily retire from service on the attainment of the age of 65 years, or after 40 years of service, depending on whichever one applies first.
The statement said “Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022: this Act provides for the retirement age of teachers in Nigeria. 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.
“While the provision of 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.
“Nigeria Law Reform Commission Act, 2022: This Act repeals the Nigeria Law Reform Commission Act, Cap. N118, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Enact the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act, 2022 to facilitate the effective implementation of the Commission’s Law Reform Proposals and enhance its performance and bring the Law in conformity to best practices.
“National Biotechnology Development Agency Act, 2022: This Act provides legal framework for the National Biotechnology Development Agency to carry out research, create and develop public awareness in biotechnology in order to encourage private sector participation in the biotechnology industry in Nigeria.”