Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has extended teachers’ retirement age by an extra five years.
He has further pledged to clear all outstanding issues affecting teachers before he hands over on May 29, 2023.
He spoke when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, in his office in Calabar.
The governor also announced the lifting of the embargo on their promotion.
He said: “Teachers are the conscience of the nation. They are the moulders of leaders of tomorrow. So, for us in Cross River, teachers deserve premium welfare, the reason their retirement age is extended by five years.
“Embargo on their promotion has also been lifted. Similarly, all promoted teachers will henceforth start earning salaries commensurate with their positions.”
According to him, in the eight years of his administration, he paid premium attention to teachers’ welfare, including prompt payment of their salaries.
Speaking earlier, the chairman of the Cross River chapter of NUT, Gregory Olayi, disclosed that Ayade is teachers-friendly.
In his remark, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Castro Ezama said the teachers came to express gratitude to Governor Ayade for his benevolence and pro-teacher policies.