The Oyo State Government has turned down a proposal to extend the retirement age for teachers and other civil servants from 60 to 65 years, arguing that such a policy would limit job opportunities for younger graduates.
This position contrasts with recent decisions by other states, including Ekiti and Niger, which have approved similar extensions for their teaching workforce.
Speaking during the 2nd Multidisciplinary International Conference of the Postgraduate College at Lead City University, Ibadan, on Wednesday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Segun Olayiwola, explained that the matter had been thoroughly debated by the State Executive Council before a final decision was reached.
According to him, the proposal was originally presented for teachers alone, but the discussion quickly expanded after other categories of civil servants also demanded inclusion.
“It took us about five executive meetings to deliberate on this issue,” Olayiwola said. “The memo that came to the council was for teachers only, but soon other civil servants began to ask, ‘What about us?’ We considered all sides and concluded that extending the retirement age would block opportunities for younger graduates waiting to enter the workforce.”
The commissioner stressed that while the state values the contributions of experienced teachers, it must also balance generational inclusion and long-term employment planning.
The Federal Government had earlier approved a similar retirement age extension for clinically skilled health workers, citing the need to retain experienced professionals in the system and strengthen healthcare delivery nationwide.
Following that decision, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) called for the policy to be extended to all civil servants, arguing that it would help retain institutional knowledge within the public sector.
Responding to the development, the Ekiti State Government last Sunday approved an immediate extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, as well as an increase in their service years from 35 to 40. The Niger State Government also announced a similar policy on Monday, to take effect from January 1, 2026.
However, Oyo State’s position signals a divergence from the growing trend, as it prioritises youth employment over workforce retention.
Olayiwola noted that the state remains committed to improving teachers’ welfare through training, incentives, and infrastructure investment rather than tenure extension.
He added that the government would continue to explore ways to strengthen the education system without stifling opportunities for the younger generation.
