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The Delta State government has marked at least 147 “over-aged” teaching and non-teaching staff of the State-owned tertiary institutions, for retirement.
The affected staff are from the Colleges of Education in Agbor, Warri and Mosogar; as well as the three state-owned Polytechnics in Ogwashi-Uku, Otefe-Oghara and Ozoro respectively.
The decision to retire the over-aged staff was contained in a circular issued by the Director of Administration, Delta State Ministry of Higher Education, Kingsley Isichei, on behalf of the Commissioner for Higher Education, Jude Sinebe.
The circular further ordered workers in the six tertiary institutions who are 60 years of age and above to proceed on compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
While 60 years age is the mandatory retirement benchmark for employees of the state, except the academic staff in its university, it was however learnt that 60 members of staff of the College of Education, Agbor, whose ages range from 60 years to 65 years, 27 staff of the College of Education, Warri, and four staff of the College of Physical Education, Mosogar, were affected by the state government directive.
Others are, the Delta State Polytechnics in Ozoro, 25 members of staff; Ogwashi-Uku 12 members of staff and Otefe-Oghara 19 members of staff.
Reacting to the directive, the Chairman, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Agbor branch, Great Ossai, said the names of staff who were not up to 60 years of age were allegedly added to the list of those asked to proceed on retirement in error.
He said the matter was being addressed by the authorities concerned, with a view to promoting peaceful teaching and learning environment in the affected institutions.