Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State has ordered that henceforth teachers and lecturers in the state’s institutions of learning will also be retiring at the age of 65 as against 60 years.
The governor made the announcement at the award night marking the 2021 May Day, organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) on Saturday in Kano.
“The Federal Government has since approved this for teachers and lecturers working under the federal government, hence, teachers in Kano State are also not left behind.
“Therefore, our teachers and lecturers as from now on will start to enjoy such retirement age from 60-65, and years of service from 35-40 as the federal workers are enjoying,” the governor said.
According to Ganduje, the state government has introduced so many policies aimed at improving the welfare of workers in the state.
“We have introduced a contributory health scheme for the workers and their families to have the cheapest health services in the state.
“I am happy, with your corporation, today we have the best contributory health scheme in Nigeria.
“We are also collaborating with private organisations in the state to see how they can also benefit from such schemes aimed at strengthening the policy.
“The Kano government has also introduced a health trust fund where five per cent of the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and oneper cent from the earning of Local Governments will be contributed.
“And that provides health services to our workers and the people of Kano State.
“And also we have introduced free and compulsory primary to secondary schools education so that our workers will not have to pinch from their salaries to pay school fees for their children.” he said.
Ganduje said that one important thing done in the state was ensuring peace and stability, security for workers, the citizens and everybody so that the state can be a place where everybody can sit and flourish in harmony.
The governor also presented a letter of permanent and pensionable appointment to lady Khadijah who lost her legs while serving as a temporary staff at Hotoro health care clinic about 15 years ago.
Earlier, the Chairman, Kano State chapter of the NLC, Mr Kabir Ado Minjibir, said the awardees were honoured for their hardworking and adherence to the Civil Service rules and regulations.
He said that the NLC found it necessary to honour not only civil servants who were dedicated and committed to their work, but also workers and employees at the private sector.
“We are awarding those that deserve to be honoured with certificate of excellence by the NLC, while some of them will go home with cash from N50,000 to N100,000 each.” he said.
Minjibir also lauded Ganduje’s administration for effective security management in the state with minimal cases of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
He further commended the governor for efficient management of the first and second wave of COVID-19 in the state.
“Being up-to-date in the payment of salary and pension in the state, despite the economic turbulence being experienced in the country until recently when the economic situation bite harder,” the chairman said.
Minjibir, however, described the theme of the 2021 May Day celebration: ‘COVID-19 Pandemic, Social and Economic Crisis: Challenges for Decent Jobs and People’s Welfare”, as a symbols for continued struggle for the survival under the current economic hardship.
The chairman charged workers to continue to give in their best while discharging their duties, adding that senior civil servants were among the awardees.
