WORKERS DAY: IKPEAZU EXTENDS TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT AGE

REPORTER: LAWRENCE NWOKEDI

Governor Okezie Ikpeau of Abia State has approved the retirement age of teachers in government employ to sixty-five years of age or forty years in service.

Governor Ikpeazu announced this during the 2023 Workers’ Day celebration in Umuahia, the state capital.

Governor Ikpeazu represented by the state Head of Service, Mr. Onyii Wamah, assured workers that all issues relating to their general well being would be addressed before the expiration of his administration.

He noted that the approval of the retirement age for teachers would take effect from next week.

The Governor used the occasion to salute the courage of both the leadership of the workforce and the entire public and civil servants for their commitment, resilience and painstaking disposition in the face of obvious challenges arising from the delay in the payment of their salaries in the last two months in the state.

In their separate remarks, the state Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Paschal Nweke; and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Ihechi Enogwe, while commending the state government for approving one command promotion for workers, appealed to the Governor to offset the huge arrears of salaries and pensions owed some departments and agencies as well as teachers and pensioners in the state.

Highlight of the occasion was a march past by various unions.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU