By Adekola Afolabi

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Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has approved new Harmonised Retirement Age for teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state.

This is even as the Governor said the issue of unpaid salary of staff of the state-owned Polytechnic, Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, will be addressed as soon as the Visitation Panel Committee submits its report.

He added that there is no going back on converting Rufus Giwa Polytechnic to university.

The Governor spoke while playing host to the leadership of organised labour in the state.

The labour unions led by the state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Oluwole Sunday-Adeleye paid a “Thank You” visit to the Governor in his office, Alagbaka Akure.

The NLC Chairman, during the visit pleaded with the Governor to approve the new retirement age for teachers in the state, and as well look into unpaid salary of RUGIPO staff.

Sunday-Adeleye explained that the federal government and some state governments had started implementing the Act that makes teachers in Nigeria compulsorily retire on attainment of 65years of age or 40 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first.

In his remarks, Governor Akeredolu approved the labour demand and directed the State Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele to immediately work out details of the new policy.

On Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, the Governor said the Panel was put in place to look into various issues affecting the institution.

Akeredolu disclosed that by the time the Polytechnic is turned to University, it will be able to run through the support of TETFUND with other benefits.

“I don’t think any private university has facilities that RUGIPO has; they have land and everything. Why don’t we make effort and turn that place to university, then it will be able to run through the support of TETFUND. You will have more students and more money to run the university. When the advice came, we sat down, a lot of things have been put in place.

“We will look at the Visitation Panel Committee report and see what we can do about their report, but I am sure by the grace of God, before the end of third quarter we should have turned that place to university”, the Governor added.