Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve and implement a 65-year service policy for teachers in the state.

NUT Chairman, Hassan Akintoye, who said this during the celebration of this year’s World Teachers’ Day, said it was odd that after about two years of signing the bill into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State was yet to domesticate the policy.

According to him, the policy would motivate teachers to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the state’s vision for education.

He added that the union sees the elongation of service policy as a veritable opportunity for the state government to benefit from the unquantifiable professional expertise of the state’s would-be retiring senior officers.

Noting that many states have implemented the law, he said Lagos would have been expected to take the lead.

While he commended the state government for some efforts made at improving the welfare of teachers, the NUT chief, among other demands, urged the governor on the recruitment of more teachers to replace retiring ones, provision of accommodation for teachers living in rural areas and increase monthly impress for head teachers in primary schools.

He lamented the global teacher shortage that has threatened to undermine the foundation of quality education.

According to him, in this era of innovation, connectivity and boundless opportunities, the demand for education had never been higher.

To reverse the alarming trend, Akintoye, said: “We must collectively embrace a global imperative. It is our duty, as custodians of education, to attract, nurture and retain the teachers we need to cultivate the education we want. We must create an environment where teaching becomes an esteemed profession.

“Investment in teacher training, professional development and fair compensation is not an option; it is imperative. We must foster an ecosystem where teachers are empowered to ignite the flames of curiosity, critical thinking and creativity in their students.”

However, the Lagos State government has said it is looking into the demand by teachers in its employ for an increase in their service years from 35 to 40 years or retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, who represented Sanwo-Olu at the celebration, pledged the state government’s commitment to do more “because we are not unmindful of the contributions of teachers to the development of the state and their vital role in the education sector.

“If you put up beautiful structures as classrooms and you provide state-of-the-art facilities, teachers are the ones to use them to teach our children. I can honestly say that Nigerian teachers are great and that they have great deliveries.

“All the issues raised are being addressed one after the other and will are looking into this one too,” he said.

He said that many vacancies that exist in the teaching service sector are being filled without delay because of the premium placed on education by the current administration.