BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has called for the provision of opportunities for continuous training and re-training, improved remuneration and provision of requisite infrastructure and facilities for teachers to impart knowledge on students in line with global standards.
The Speaker equally commended Nigerian teachers for their service to the development of the Nigerian child
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, to mark 2017 World Teachers Day with the theme, ‘Teaching in Freedom, Empowering Teachers’, Hon Dogara stressed that empowerment of teachers remains a top priority in all education and development strategies.
Also advocating security for the lives of teachers, he expressed delight over the significant improvement of the security situation in the North East which enabled teachers to resume work but however called on security agencies to provide adequate protection for all schools in the region.
Dogara implored security agencies to step up security in schools to end the harrowing incidents of kidnappings of teachers and students.
He further said; “Teachers are the most important people in the development of any individual and by implication the society. This confers a priority status on them which, sadly, has not reflected in their conditions of service or living standards.
“It is therefore, important that proper training, remuneration and provision of requisite infrastructure and facilities for teachers to impart knowledge on students in line with global standards are provided.
“Their salaries and allowances must be paid as and when due to encourage them to continue to put in their best in this all important task that they carry out. This will engender improvement in the education sector of Nigeria and produce better trained teachers, as well as finely baked graduates.
“Security of our schools remain a priority. Thanks to the determination of the present administration and the bravery of our military troops, students and teachers in the North East can now go to schools freely in most areas.
“On our part, the House of Representatives will continue to pursue all measures that will promote the development, empowerment and security of the Nigerian teacher.
“This is evident in our timely response to issues between our teachers and the government that threatened to clog the wheel of progress of the education sector including increasing their retirement age from 60 to 65 years as requested by leadership of the Nigerian Union of Teachers when they visited me few months ago.”
The Speaker, who had his post primary training as a Grade II Teacher, said the House of Representatives will not relent in supporting legislative measures aimed at improving the nation’s education sector, including the welfare of teachers, to take it to a point where it can compete favourably with global counterparts.
