The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a new law increasing the retirement age for academic staff in state-owned institutions, aiming to improve the quality of education and retain experienced lecturers.
During its plenary session on Wednesday, the House raised the retirement age for academic staff from 65 to 70 years, while professors can now retire at 75, instead of the previous 70 years.
The change came after the lawmakers adopted a report from the Standing Committee on Education, presented by its chairman, Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris, who represents the Tafa constituency.
According to Idris, the decision aligns with education policies already adopted in some other parts of the country. He explained that the aim is to allow highly experienced lecturers and professors to continue contributing to the growth of higher education in Niger State.
“This is a necessary move to ensure we retain our best hands in the academic sector,” he said. “Experienced lecturers are not easy to replace, and this extension gives them more time to mentor younger academics and improve academic performance.”
The bill now awaits the assent of the State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, before it becomes law.
The retirement age for academic staff has been a subject of debate in many states and institutions across Nigeria. The Federal Government had earlier approved similar age limits for academic staff in federal universities — with lecturers retiring at 70 and professors at 75 — especially under reforms in the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Many state governments have followed this trend to prevent brain drain and retain top professionals in the teaching field. With Niger State now joining this list, more states may consider similar laws to strengthen their educational workforce.
Education stakeholders in the state have long called for a policy shift to address the shortage of qualified and experienced academic staff in higher institutions, particularly as younger lecturers leave for better opportunities elsewhere.
By extending the retirement age, the state hopes to bridge this gap and maintain continuity in teaching, research, and mentoring.
In the same plenary session, the Niger State House of Assembly also passed the **Niger State Diaspora Agency Bill**, which seeks to establish a formal body to coordinate the affairs of Niger indigenes living abroad.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Afiniki Eunice Dauda, who presented the report on behalf of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Humanitarian and Disaster Management, said the bill will create new avenues for development by strengthening the state’s connection with its diaspora community.
According to her, the new agency will encourage strategic investments, cultural exchange, trade partnerships, and development-focused collaborations between the state government and Niger citizens in the diaspora.
“This is a vital step toward attracting foreign investments and building lasting ties with our brothers and sisters abroad,” Dauda said. “Nigerians in the diaspora have always shown interest in contributing to the development of their home states, and this agency will provide the platform for that engagement.”
With the approval of this bill, Niger State joins other states in Nigeria such as Lagos, Anambra, and Edo that have already established diaspora agencies or offices to harness the economic and intellectual potential of their indigenes living abroad.
The agency is expected to create opportunities for joint ventures, donations to health and education projects, promotion of tourism, and mobilization of skilled professionals from the diaspora to support local institutions.
Analysts believe that with proper implementation, the Diaspora Agency could become a key player in driving economic growth, especially in areas such as agriculture, ICT, education, and healthcare.
Observers have commended the Niger State House of Assembly for taking proactive steps to address both educational and economic development through these new laws.
Education advocates say the extension of the retirement age shows that the government values the contributions of teachers and is serious about solving long-standing academic challenges.
Similarly, civil society groups have praised the creation of the diaspora agency as a smart move to unlock untapped development resources and forge stronger global partnerships.
Both bills now await the governor’s signature before they can be fully implemented.
