OGUN RESTATES COMMITMENT TO TEACHERS’ WELFARE The present administration in Ogun State believes that education remains a catalyst for effecting fundamental positive changes in any society. Therefore, it will be unrelenting in according the sector a primary place of honour as it would continue to embark on the training of teachers to build their capacity for optimal productivity. Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Segun Odubela made this position of government known in Abeokuta while declaring open a 3-day training workshop organized for teachers by the State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT). Barrister Odubela noted that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration had since assumption of office left no one in doubt about the importance it attached to educational development, emphasising that providing qualitative educational services to the teeming populace remained a prominent component of the 5 cardinal programme of the “mission to rebuild agenda” He said that it was in line with this belief that the government had among other things, been paying teachers’ salaries and allowances regularly, organizing training programmes for them, recalling that recently, the government had approved the promotion of some senior teachers who had been stagnated for years. “ There is no gainsaying the fact that the present administration in the State accord due recognition to teaching profession, that is the more reason why apart from paying salaries and allowances of teachers promptly, promotion of teachers are also carried out regularly including the promotion of some Grade Level 14 to 16 who had been stagnated for so many years. All these are geared towards boosting the morale of teachers and promoting industrial harmony in the education sector” Odubela noted. He commended the union for the initiative, charging the participating teachers whom he described as builders of the nation to seize the opportunity to enrich their knowledge for improved performance. Also speaking, Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Hon. Mufutau Akande Ajibola, represented by the Director, School Services, Mr. Titus Ogunkola charged teachers in the State to uphold the ethics and dignity of the profession at all times, commending the NUT for its collaboration with the Government to develop the educational sector. Welcoming participants earlier, the NUT State Chairman, Comrade ‘Dare Ilekoya reminded his members that unionism had gone scientific, saying that “the era of jumping up and banging the table had gone for good”. According to him, modern day unionism employs tools such as dialogue, negotiation, discussion, supporting good ideas amongst others to arrive at acceptable positions between parties in labour matters.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Apr 2014 06:52:31 +0000