Oyo govt rejects proposal to extend retirement age for teachers

By Adejayan Gbenga –

The Oyo State Government has rejected a proposal to extend the retirement age of teachers and other civil servants from 60 to 65 years, saying such a move would reduce job opportunities for younger graduates in the state.

Speaking at the 2nd Multidisciplinary International Conference of the Postgraduate College, Lead City University, Ibadan, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Segun Olayiwola, revealed that the State Executive Council extensively debated the proposal before deciding against it.

Olayiwola explained that the government’s primary concern was the impact of the policy on youth employment. According to him, increasing the retirement age would delay the exit of older employees and block recruitment opportunities for thousands of qualified young people waiting to join the education workforce.

The commissioner added that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration currently has no plans to raise the retirement age for teachers or other categories of public servants. He noted that the state government’s focus remains on creating more jobs and improving the education system through strategic recruitment and capacity building.

However, not everyone agrees with the government’s stance. The Provost of the Postgraduate College, Lead City University, Prof. Afolakemi Oredein, supported the idea of extending the service years for academic mentors, arguing that retaining experienced lecturers and professors could strengthen the mentorship process and reduce brain drain.

“When you are mentoring, we need well-experienced people to guide those coming up. Increasing it to 70 years is not a bad idea,” Oredein said, stressing that age should not be a barrier to productivity in academia.

Also, a human capital development expert, Prof. Godwin Oyedokun, maintained that the decision to retire should depend on an individual’s health and competence. He suggested that retired professors who remain fit and productive could be retained with lighter workloads and periodic medical evaluations.

While states such as Ekiti and Niger have adopted the 65-year retirement policy for teachers, Oyo State has chosen a different path, maintaining that its current employment strategy prioritizes opportunities for young graduates and the continuous renewal of the workforce.