*Governor Bago Approves Conditional Return of PTA Levies, Pledges Continued Support By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has...
*Governor Bago Approves Conditional Return of PTA Levies, Pledges Continued Support
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has passed a new law setting the retirement age of teachers at 65 years, effective from January 1, 2026. The law, domesticated and approved by the Niger State House of Assembly, aims to retain experienced educators and enhance the quality of teaching in the state.
Governor Umaru Bago made the announcement during the 2025 World Teachers’ Day celebration held in Minna. The event was organized by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Niger State Chapter, in collaboration with the State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education.
The governor also revealed that the retirement age for professors in the state has now been extended to 70 years, emphasizing that the initiative is designed to ensure that the values, knowledge, and experience of educators are passed on to future generations.
In another policy shift, Governor Bago approved the return of the collection of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) levies in schools. However, he stressed that such payments must be closely supervised by the Ministry of Education to ensure proper and transparent utilization.
Reaffirming his administration's commitment to the welfare of teachers, Governor Bago announced a wage award of ₦20,000 for all teachers in the state, to be disbursed next month. He also donated an 18-seater bus to the NUT Niger State Chapter.
Furthermore, the governor directed that going forward, the recruitment and promotion of primary school teachers will fall under the mandate of the Local Government Service Commission, while the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) will serve only a screening and advisory role.
He also approved a retreat for teachers promoted to Grade Level 17, reiterating his resolve to remove the teaching profession from the civil service bureaucracy and provide teachers with a more structured and rewarding service framework.
In his remarks, NUT Niger State Chairman, Comrade Adamu Mohammed Akayago, highlighted the significance of the celebration’s theme, "Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow," stating that teachers are not merely conveyors of knowledge but architects of a collective future. He commended Governor Bago for his revolutionary policies, including the approval of an ₦80,000 minimum wage for workers, and urged the government to address lingering challenges facing teachers.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Aishatu Nuhu Yalwa, emphasized the critical role of teachers in shaping values and character, and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to providing inclusive and quality education.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, Registrar and Chief Executive of the National Examinations Council (NECO), noted that Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing youth populations in the world. He described teachers as strategic national assets and emphasised the need for a unified education strategy. He added that NECO will continue to use its data resources to improve learning outcomes across the country.
Other speakers at the event included the Executive Chairman of Niger State SUBEB, Mohammed Baba Ibrahim; Director General of School Reforms, Maimuna Mohammed; State Coordinator of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Usman Muhammad Sani; and the Niger State NLC Chairman, Comrade Idris Lafene — all of whom acknowledged the indispensable role of teachers in national development.
Governor Bago was presented with an award of excellence in recognition of his commitment to educational reforms and service delivery. Other recipients included Senator Muhammad Sani Musa (Niger East), former Commissioner for Basic Education Dr. Hadiza Asabe Mohammed, NLC Chairman Comrade Idris Lafene, TUC Chairman, and ThinkLab company.
This year’s World Teachers’ Day was celebrated under the global theme: “Together for Teachers, Together for Tomorrow.”
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