The government of Enugu State has promised to embark on initiatives aimed at “training and re-training” teachers in the state for optimal output, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The governor of the state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi stated this in an event marking the World Teachers’ Day in the state capital on Monday.
Ugwuanyi also said that his government was on a mission to revamp dilapidated school buildings in the state, while promising to build new ones if the existing ones prove inadequate.
The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Uche Eze, noted that his investigations showed that most of the school were in pitiable conditions and needed to be revamped.
The governor equally promised to support the teachers in their quest to provide qualitative education for students by paying their salaries regularly and on time.
Also speaking at the event, National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Mr Michael Olukoya, who was represented by Mr J.O.J Ukanu, from the Imo chapter of the union, stated that teachers had agreed that the retirement age be increased to 65 years to increase retention rate in schools.
Olukoya, who also commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s war on terror, tagged it as signalling his commitment to bringing meaningful change to the country in all facets.
In his reaction, the state chairman of NUT, Mr Paul Nnaji said that the time had come to evaluate the contribution of teachers to nation building with the aim of determination whether their compensation is commensurate with the role they play in society.
Furthermore, Nnaji called on the state government to revisit the issue of retirements initiated by the State Universal Basic Education Board since 2011 with the view of reinstating those who may have lost their jobs wrongfully.
He also called on the government to recruit more teachers to fill the void created by retirement and death of some teachers.