The Delta State Government has approved the extension of the retirement age for associate professors in state-owned universities from 65 to 70 years, a move described as both compassionate and strategic to bolster academic excellence, deepen postgraduate programmes, and strengthen mentorship for younger lecturers.
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Announcing the decision on Friday in Asaba, the Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari, said the extension—approved by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori—aligns with federal policy and responds to the growing demands of Delta’s rapidly expanding tertiary education sector.
Tonukari explained that while the federal government amended the law in 2012 to extend the retirement age of academic staff in the professorial cadre to 70, Delta State had previously implemented it only for Delta State University. The new directive now expands the implementation to all state-owned universities.
“In 2012, the Federal Government amended the law to extend the retirement age of academic staff in the professorial cadre to 70 years, while non-academic staff retire at 65,” he said. “Delta State domesticated the law for Delta State University at the time, and now His Excellency has magnanimously extended it to associate professors across all state universities.”
The commissioner dismissed concerns that the policy would limit employment opportunities for younger academics, noting that the Oborevwori administration has aggressively expanded the tertiary education sector, creating more positions for academic and non-academic staff.
“Since 2023, over 600 academic and non-academic staff have been employed across the four state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education due to ongoing institutional growth and accreditation drives,” Tonukari added.
He pointed to significant development across institutions such as Southern Delta University, Ozoro; Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba; University of Delta, Agbor; and the new Southern Delta University campus in Orerokpe, where infrastructure and programme expansion have nearly doubled capacity.
Tonukari further noted that the policy would ensure continuity and quality in the emerging postgraduate programmes in Delta universities by retaining senior academics capable of mentoring junior staff and driving research excellence.
“This decision is timely. For the first time, we are seeing very strong postgraduate programmes emerge in Delta State’s universities. These senior academics will guide the next generation and ensure the sustainability of quality education in the state,” he said.
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