The move by the Federal Government to rebrand the teaching profession and attract best brains through the extension of retirement age and special allowances is currently causing ripples among education managers and stakeholders.

While some educationists applauded the government’s decision, describing it as the way to go in attracting best brains to the profession, others believed the policy may worsen the already bad situation in the sub-sector.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had last Wednesday approved the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021 which seeks to give legal backing to new measures by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance teaching profession in the country.

The retirement age bill, which has been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, seeks to move teachers retirement age from 60 to 65 years, while the years of service will also move from 35 to 40.

But educationists are divided in their views on the development. An administrator, Emma Jimo and National President, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) Kazeem Labaika said this is not what the country or teaching profession needs at this point in time.

They pointed out that at 65, teachers could be consulting for schools without necessarily been in active service. They argued that the policy would only be recycling certain citizens, closing doors against many.

While some educationists applauded the government’s decision, describing it as the way to go in attracting best brains to the profession, others believed the policy may worsen the already bad situation in the sub-sector.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had last Wednesday approved the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers Bill, 2021 which seeks to give legal backing to new measures by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to enhance teaching profession in the country.

The retirement age bill, which has been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, seeks to move teachers retirement age from 60 to 65 years, while the years of service will also move from 35 to 40.

But educationists are divided in their views on the development. An administrator, Emma Jimo and National President, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) Kazeem Labaika said this is not what the country or teaching profession needs at this point in time.

They pointed out that at 65, teachers could be consulting for schools without necessarily been in active service. They argued that the policy would only be recycling certain citizens, closing doors against many.

Kano State Commissioner for Heath, Dr Aminu Ibrahim Tsanyawa, has said that the state has recorded 118 leprosy cases with no reported death from the infection

He announced this at a press conference marking the commemoration of 2021 World Leprosy and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

He however, said no death was reported from leprosy throughout last year, adding that the 118 affected persons have been enrolled for treatment in government facilities.

Tsanyawa said a total of 202,189 new leprosy cases were detected globally, while the African region detected a total of 20,209 new cases, of which Nigeria has the highest number with 2,424 leprosy cases, constituting 1.2 percent and 10th position of the global figures.

He added that the country currently occupies 4th position of the 20 high leprosy burden in Africa.

According to the Health Commissioner, the theme for the 2021 World Leprosy Day is: ‘Beat Leprosy, End Stigma,’ while the theme for the 2021 World NTDs Day is: “Face NTDs, End the Neglect.”

Tsanyawa hailed the Ganduje administration for its significant efforts in reducing the burden, socioeconomic impact and transmission of leprosy and NTDs in addition to health promotion and rehabilitation of persons affected.

He disclosed that 526 leprosy patients among 4,734 poorest individuals with disabilities have been enrolled to access free healthcare services under the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund through Kano state Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KSCHMA).

On river blindness, he said the administration treats over 910,000 people annually against river blindness in 18 endemic local government areas of the state, using Mass Administration of Medicine (MAM).

The Federal Government has hinted that it will concession 35,000 kilometers of roads across the country, which will attract N1.134 trillion revenue.

This followed its economic reform agenda, anchored on public-private partnership (PPP) meant to develop and manage two federal roads in each geopolitical zone of the country, thereby supplementing the government’s budgetary allocation for development.

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, stated Monday, during the presentation of certificates of 12 roads in Abuja, saying this was the first phase, which commenced with breaking the projects into smaller highways.

On the concession plan, he explained that no part of the country would be left out, adding that government was doing these to address marginalisation as all stakeholders had been consulted on the plan.

Meanwhile, Director, PPP Resource Department, Michael Ohiani, listed the routes for the concession as the Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba and Shagamu-Benin road networks.

Others are, Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga, Kano-Shuari, Potiskum-Damaturu, Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme roads, which negotiations would end in December this year.

Ohiani stressed that the challenges and lessons learnt from the pilot PPP scheme would provide a guide in future transactions on other viable routes of the road networks in the country.

He explained that in the long term, the successful implementation of the scheme would lead to the imparting of new knowledge and skills on Nigerians with regards to development, operations and maintenance of highways and other road infrastructure across the country.

There is suspense in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) ahead of the service exit date of the Inspector-General, Mr. Abubakar Adamu Mohammed.

The suspense is hinged on the fact that it is not clear whether Adamu’s tenure will be extended by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Some power brokers were said to be lobbying for the extension of the IGP’s tenure till November 9 when he will be 60 years old.

By service records, the IGP, who enlisted on February 1, 1986 will attain the mandatory 35 years service scheduled for retirement on Monday.

As at Saturday, the IGP was not sure of his fate and has been commissioning some projects in order not to be caught off guard.

The IGP’s dilemma is shared by three Deputy Inspectors-General of Police and 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police who are due for retirement with him on Monday.

The DIGs are Aminchi Samaila Baraya; Ibrahim A. Lamorde and Nkpa N. Inakwu.

The affected Assistant Inspectors-General of Police are Mohammad A. Mustapha; AIG Jonah Jackson; Olushola Babajide David; Yunana Y. Babas; Asuquo A.A. Amba; Nkereuwem Akpan; Olafimihan Adeniran Adeoye; Agunbiade O. Labore; Undie Adie; and Olugbenga Adeyanju.

A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We are all in suspense because the President has the prerogative to extend the tenure of the IGP as he did for some of the retired Service Chiefs, the Comptroller-General of Immigration and the immediate past Comptroller-General of Nigerian Correctional Service.

“We are also not sure if the President will extend the tenure of the three affected DIGs and 10 AIGs. We are waiting for an announcement from the presidency.

“Even the IGP is not too confident of what will be the decision of the President. He is busy putting finishing touches to some signature projects while awaiting Buhari’s position.

“There were also rumours of an assurance already given to IGP that he will spend extra one year in office based on his performance.

“What is clear is that while some power brokers have been lobbying for the extension of IGP’s tenure by one year to complete the ongoing police reforms, some AIGs are also pushing hard to replace him.

“Those opposed to the extension of tenure alleged that one year cannot make any significant change in the Nigeria Police Force.”

Another source said: “Some people claimed that a major challenge of the Nigeria Police is the recurring retirement of experienced hands.

“But no one can change it because the law says you are either 60 years old or 35 years on the job. I think we are going through a strange experience of tenure extension. Politics is creeping into police and military service.

“Assessing Nigerian Police, some foreign powers had opposed the nation’s bid for the President of International Police (INTERPOL) in December 2020. So, it depends on which side of the divide you belong.”

A group, Coalition of Youth and Student Organisations, has pleaded with President Buhari to extend the tenure of IGP.

The Convener of the group, Comrade Isah Jabbi said: “While we appreciate the forthright decision of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari, to have appointed one of our best hands, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, as the IGP then, we are proud to say that the President’s decision has been justified to a huge extent, despite the challenges posed by our internal security.

“The morale of the officers and men of our police force, is now always high and this has been made possible by the visionary and dynamic leadership style of Mr. Muhammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, under whose leadership the Nigerian Police has continued to record tremendous successes both against our security challenges and in the general wellbeing of officers and men of the force.

“IGP Adamu’s brutal confrontation of banditry is not only a pacesetter in the history of the Nigeria Police, he is a man with many ‘firsts’.

“The Nigerian Police under his leadership has conducted successful recruitment, training, and deployment of 10,000 police recruits in line with Federal Government’s manpower development plan of the Nigeria Police.

“Enhancement of Operational Capacity of the Force with the procurement of patrol vehicles including 46 Police Smart Surveillance (CCTV Camera-on-the Move) vehicles, tactical operations vehicles fitted with state-of-the-art surveillance equipment; armoured personnel carriers; troop carriers; and 7 anti-riot water cannon trucks.”