ADAMAWA/By Ibrahim Gambo,Yola – The Chairman of Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Rodney Nathan said the state of emergency declared on education by the Adamawa State Governor has no positive impact on education in the state.
Mr. Rodney said the government of Senator Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow has shown good intention but seems to lack the zeal and the focus to do carry it through as there are no sign of seriousness regarding emergence focus on education.
According to him the declaration came at the right time given problems created by the past administration, especially in the Primary schools sub-sector to the extend that teaching facilities, salaries, promotion, pension and gratuity for several months and years were not been paid.
He called on the government to take practical steps to actualize the dream behind the declaration of a state of emergency on education.
“After the declaration we were thinking much attention will be given to the education sector as in other sector like road, but to be honest with you we have not felt the impact of the state of emergency put in place by the Governor.” Rodney said
He recalled that at a meeting attended, they thought that there were things the government wanted to find out about the education from them as major stakeholders and also thought there is going to be a line of action to properly address the problem of education.
But it turned out to be a wishful thinking, he said adding that the government did not want to know the position of things but excluded them from the action plan.
“What we are seeing after the declaration is not what we are expecting, with the declaration we are still having outstanding salaries arrears, we are still having leave transport grant arrears for five years, we’re still having dilapidated class rooms, we are still having hanging promotions and still having pupils being taught under shed of trees.” Rodney added
Mr. Rodney spoke at the office of Adamawa State Universal Basic Education, Yola, during a data capturing exercise of some teachers in the state.
He lamented that government is scheming out the teachers in the state, stressing that they were expecting to be officially invited to plan along the state government as one of the stakeholders but have been turned onlookers to witness how it unfolds.
“We were thinking the first approach is to invite the NUT since the union stands for teachers, we were even thinking we will be asked to submit proposal to know our opinion on what the government should do in the state of emergency declared, we are now following the trend to see how it goes”
He stressed that the government should have first of take care of the teacher’s needs as there cannot be a proper state of emergency without taking care of those holding forth the affairs of that organisation (teachers) where so many of them are owed months of unpaid salaries.” In fact there is no signal that the state of emergency is real if the teachers salaries are not paid.”
Effort to speak with the Commissioner of Information and Strategic, Ahmad Sajoh failed as he failed to respond to calls.
