Rivers State Government has approved an additional N1 billion to the existing N1 billion Pension Fund in the state, doubling the total to N2 billion.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara announced the approval during a State Executive Council meeting held on Thursday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.
The meeting was presided over by the Governor, with Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu and other council members in attendance.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Warisenibo Joseph Johnson, stated that the State Executive Council commended the Governor for this bold decision.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, Johnson noted that the Governor’s action was commendable, as the additional funds would benefit pensioners in the state, aligning with his welfare package for both civil servants and retired senior citizens.
Johnson explained, “Council also appreciated His Excellency for a N1 billion addition to the Pension Fund. It had always been N1 billion, but the Governor, in his usual mannerism, has increased that figure from N1 billion to N2 billion.
The Rivers State Head of Civil Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, stated that measures are being implemented to support pensioners, praising His Excellency for this initiative as part of a welfare package for both current and retired civil servants. He also announced that the Council has approved the domestication of a federal law that extends the retirement age for teachers in Rivers State by five years. This extension specifically applies to professional teachers registered with the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Previously, teachers were required to retire upon reaching 60 years of age or after 35 years of service. Under the new law, teachers can now retire at 65 years of age or after 40 years of service, whichever comes first. Dr. Nwaeke emphasized that this regulation applies only to teachers and not to administrative or other school staff.
Nwaeke emphasized that “Every person that will benefit from this must be teachers that are professional and registered with Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria.
“They must be professional teachers, and they must be teachers in the classroom, not people that are working as admin staff. This is very heartwarming news, and the Council has approved it.”
He added that the policy’s implementation takes effect immediately, based on the national circular enabling the elongation of service years for teachers across the country.
