By John Odunjo
“I have identified those key areas that we need to act on – levels enhancement to Grade Level 16, car and housing loans for primary school teachers, implementation of the new retirement age and other issues that would make them more effective and fulfilled on the job. Government will act on these very soon”
Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said that primary school teachers in the state will soon start enjoying certain benefits that their counterparts in secondary schools have been enjoying in the state.
Oyebanji said that his administration would address and end the issue of non-disbursement of car and housing loans to primary school teachers in the state.
He added that government would also look into the issue of career progression of degree holders in primary schools with a view to allowing them reach Grade Level 16 or 17 as the case may be.
The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti during a meeting with Education Secretaries across the 16 local government areas in his office to get first hand information on some complaints by the teachers, which were hitherto unknown to him.
Oyebanji, according to a statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode, expressed concern over some of the revelations at the meeting.
He promised to address other issues affecting the teachers including redistribution of teachers to ensure that rural areas get their fair share of teachers as well as provision of incentives to those serving in rural areas.
He also said government would consider the implementation of the newly recommended retirement age for teachers.
While cautioning concerned authorities against inviting teachers to seminars with inadequate or no provision for their welfare, Governor Oyebanji said teachers should henceforth be well treated and respected as moulders of future leaders.
“I am absolutely grateful for the feedback and it means that our work is cut out for us. I have identified those key areas that we need to act on – levels enhancement to Grade Level 16, car and housing loans for primary school teachers, implementation of the new retirement age and other issues that would make them more effective and fulfilled on the job. Government will act on these very soon”, the governor said.
He commended teachers in the state for their commitment to duty and determination to ensure that the administration succeed in its education and human capital development efforts.
In their separate comments, the Head of Service, Engr Sunday Komolafe; Commissioner for Education, Dr (Mrs) Bimpe Aderiye; and Chairman, State Universal Education Board (SUBEB), Prof Femi Akinwumi, restated the commitment of the government to the welfare of teachers and entire workforce in the state.
The Executive Secretaries, who admitted that the meeting with the governor was the first of its kind in the history of the state, lauded Oyebanji for giving them the rare opportunity to bare their minds on issues touching on the education sector in the state.
