Kaduna Extends Teachers’ Retirement Age to 65, Approves Rural Posting Allowance

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has approved enhanced service conditions for teachers in the State, including the extension of the retirement age to 65 years, as part of measures to strengthen the education sector and reward professional dedication.

Under the new policy, which takes effect from August 1, 2025, the mandatory retirement age for teachers has been raised from 60 to 65 years, while the maximum years of service have been increased from 35 to 40 years.

The Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that teachers posted to rural and hard-to-reach communities across Kaduna State will now receive a special rural posting allowance.

According to Maiyaki, the approval is in line with the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, enacted by the National Assembly. The Act exempts teachers from the general public service retirement threshold of 60 years or 35 years of service, in recognition of their critical role in national development.

He said the decision reflects Governor Uba Sani’s firm commitment to improving workers’ welfare and revitalising the education sector in the state.

“The Governor considers experienced teachers central to delivering quality education and sustaining learning outcomes across Kaduna State,” Maiyaki said.

He explained that the policy is designed to honour years of dedicated service, retain invaluable experience in classrooms, and motivate higher productivity for the benefit of children and the overall future of the state.

Maiyaki further disclosed that a circular conveying the approval has already been issued by the Office of the Governor. The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary (Establishment), Mrs Felicia I. Makama, and directs all relevant ministries, departments and agencies to comply with the new policy.

“The circular also states that detailed implementation guidelines will be issued by the State Civil Service Commission in due course,” the commissioner added.

He expressed confidence that the policy would boost teacher motivation, improve retention and significantly raise educational standards across Kaduna State, in line with the administration’s broader agenda of strengthening public institutions and investing in human capital development.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has also announced that it has recorded zero incidents of violent conflict since 2023, a milestone it said reflects progress in development across sectors such as education, agriculture, skills acquisition and enterprise growth.

The disclosure was made at the 2025 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Week held on Saturday in Kaduna, where Governor Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner for Information, highlighted the achievements recorded through the state’s peace-building initiatives.

Delivering the governor’s keynote address, Maiyaki said the achievement reflects the effectiveness of the Kaduna Peace Model, a homegrown framework that integrates dialogue, community engagement, early warning systems and intelligence-led security with inclusive governance.

According to him, the administration has deliberately positioned peace as a development strategy, recognising that stability is essential for social progress and economic growth.

“Peace is the foundation of development. By prioritising prevention, dialogue and community ownership, Kaduna has created an enabling environment for sustained growth,” Governor Sani said.