A new law to extend the retirement age of teachers in primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa State to 65 years has been signed by Governor Douye Diri.
Governor Diri who signed the Law on Monday, March 10, 2025 in his office followed the recent passage of the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2025 by the State House of Assembly.
According to a provision in the new law, “teachers in the State shall by this law retire on attainment of 65 years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever is earlier.”
The implication of this law is that the Public Service Rules or any legislation or regulation in force in the State that requires a person to retire from the Public Service at 60 years of age or 35 years of service shall not apply to Teachers in Bayelsa State.
The Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Law, 2025 defines teacher to mean an education officer, or someone engaged in teaching, including a technical instructor who teaches trade, technical or vocational subject, in a secondary school, college or professional department as well a head master or head mistress in a primary school who possesses requisite teaching qualification, recognized by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
