The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has urged private school owners and investors to make necessary reviews of their employment terms and conditions.
The National President of NAPPS, Mr Yomi Otubela, said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos to celebrate the International Workers’ Day.
Otubela said that reviewing of employment terms would give room for proper motivation of workers in the private education sub-sector.
“It is only a motivated workforce that can add values that will enhance proper teaching and learning to take place in our schools.
“The same goes for workers in the public education sub-sector.
“This year’s Workers’ Day is being celebrated amid rising costs of living occasioned by high inflation rates with a negative impact on the real incomes of workers in Nigeria and other countries of the world.
“More worrisome is the issue of unabating insecurity that has given rise to cases of kidnapping, banditry and act of terrorism in the country,” he said.
Otubela said that in some cases, schools had also been targeted by the insurgents while students, teaching and non-teaching staff had either been kidnapped or even lost their lives.
“We pray that the souls of students, workers and others who have lost their lives in the course of the pursuit of their daily living continue to rest in perfect peace.
“The importance of workers in nation-building cannot be overemphasised and for those in the education sector, in particular, your passion to continue to mould the lives of these young ones for the better is well appreciated.
“We use this opportunity to urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfil all promises made in the signed agreement and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),” he said.
He added that the role of private schools in complementing and closing the education gap for both the states and federal could not be overemphasised.
“Governments should see private school owners as partners in the collaborative efforts to ensure governments fulfil the provisions in section 15(1) of the Child’s Right act.
“We direct the attention of the states and federal government to the plight of private schools in the country amid rising costs of running private schools such as multiple taxations, increased levies and high interests on loans.
“Concessions can be considered for the owners of private schools to carry out their educational services with ease for the benefit of the Nigerian children.
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“Government at all levels and employers of labour in the private sector must find a way of ensuring uninterrupted labour services in the country,” Otubela said. (NAN)