Tales of ‘neglect’, largesse as Nigeria marks World Teachers’ Day

• Abiodun employs 3,000, presents houses, cash to teachers, schools
• Obaseki adds extra half-month bonus to 13th month salary
• Lagos teachers seek implementation of 65 years retirement age
• Uzodimma promises improved welfare to Imo teachers

Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Cross River chapter, has decried what it considered neglect of teachers by the state government, over the years, especially in areas of welfare and activities of the union.

State chairman, Comrade Gregory Olayi, disclosed this in an address presented at the 2023 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Calabar, yesterday.

The theme was: ‘The teachers we need for the education we want: the global imperative to reverse teacher shortage’.

“We are not happy with the government’s poor treatment of teachers,” Olayi said, describing the theme as apt, given the alleged shortage of teachers in the state for more than eight years.

He complained that the government had not seen the need for recruitment of teachers, in spite of the high rate of retirement of aged tutors.

According to Olayi, statistics reveal that about 10,000 teachers are needed in secondary schools, and more in primary.

He called for regular promotion of teachers, implementation of 2014 promotions, tax exemption for all teachers, discontinuation of the Ayade Care Deductions, provision of science laboratory and equipment in schools, and provision of office imprest for primary school head teachers.

BUT in a goodwill message, Commissioner for Education, Stephen Odey (represented by Director of Schools Department, Mrs. Okama Ubi Amos), said the government is sentimentally attached to the issue of teacher inadequacy in the state. That was why, over the years, while the government was unable to recruit workers into the public service, the teaching sector benefited from a fair share of recruitment.

On a happier note, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, approved immediate employment of 1,000 Ogun TEACh interns in commemoration of the Day.

The governor also approved the engagement of 2,000 new TEACh applicants, in addition to the already engaged 2,000 interns. He also approved houses and cash prizes to teachers who did the state proud in the discharge of their duties.

On his part, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, promised to pay teachers in the state an extra half-month bonus in December, in addition to the 13th-month salary to be paid to all workers in the state.

Obaseki made the promise while addressing teachers during an event to mark the day, in Benin City.

In Oyo State, three teachers won awards in the 2023 Presidential Teachers and School Excellence Award at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.

This was announced by Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Adeniyi Olusanjo during the celebration.

And in Imo State, Governor Hope Uzodimma promised to improve teachers’ wages and salaries to make the profession attractive.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to approve and implement a 65-year service policy for teachers in the state.

Chairman, Hassan Akintoye, said it was odd that after about two years of signing the bill into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State had yet to domesticate the policy.

He said the gesture will motivate teachers to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the state’s educational vision.

He added that the union sees the elongation of service policy as a veritable opportunity for the state government to benefit from unquantifiable professional expertise of the state’s would-be retiring senior officers.