The Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of former President Muhammadu Buhari, describing him as a true friend of the education sector whose contributions should be immortalised through decisive action on teachers’ welfare.
In a heartfelt statement jointly signed by its National President, Comrade Sola Adigun, and Secretary General, Comrade Kenneth Okoh, the union hailed Buhari’s commitment to the teaching profession—particularly his landmark signing of the Harmonised Retirement Age for Teachers in Nigeria Act, 2022, which raised the retirement age of teachers to 65 years or 40 years of service.
However, the union voiced concern that more than two years after the law’s enactment, many states across the federation are yet to implement it.
“For more than two years, the law has not been implemented, thereby shortchanging teachers and undermining the intent of the federal legislation,” the union said. “It is our belief that one of the ways to truly celebrate the memory of President Muhammadu Buhari is to ensure full and unconditional implementation of this law in every state of the federation.”
ASUSS emphasized that the delay in enforcement not only dishonours the former president’s legacy but also deals a blow to the morale of teachers who had looked to the law as a beacon of professional dignity and stability.
“Failure of the implementation will be a disservice to both the departed leader and the teaching profession,” the union warned.
The union appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent and deliberate steps to engage state governors and relevant agencies to ensure nationwide compliance with the law, in the spirit of continuity and justice.
“President Buhari may be gone, but his legacies live on,” ASUSS said. “Let us not only mourn him but also honour him by giving life to the progressive policies he championed—for teachers and for Nigeria at large.”
ASUSS reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights of secondary school teachers and called on all stakeholders in the education sector to rally behind the full implementation of the Teachers’ Retirement Age Law as a fitting tribute to a leader who, in their words, “gave teachers a reason to believe again.”