Tony Okafor,Awka
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party(LP)Mr Peter Obi, has lamented the poor treatment of teachers by government.
He explained that teachers form a critical and indispensable part of educational development in the nation, stressing that they deserve commendation and encouragement for their role in driving national development and progress.
Obi, who made this known on Tuesday in his Message to mark World Teachers Day 2022, applauded teachers in Nigeria for their sacrifice to ensure that Nigerian students, at all levels of learning, received good educational and moral formation.
He said by their critical role in moving the educational sector forward, they were helping to drive national growth and development, which he said education was a critical component of.
Obi encouraged the teachers to strive daily to remain good role models to students, both in learning and in character, urging them to continuously improve their knowledge and skills, so as to keep pace with the dynamic and constantly evolving global education system, and be at par with their peers around the world.
He lamented that education had continued to suffer untold neglect from the government, thus leading to obvious neglect of teachers’ welfare, stating that the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) exemplified the neglect education had continued to suffer due to bad governance in the country.
He said, “It remains unimaginable that after eight months of industrial action by the ASUU, the Federal Government is yet to find a lasting solution to the issue which had lingered over the years. How can we achieve a truly progressive nation with education and teachers’ welfare continually relegated to the background?”
He called on the Federal Government to consider the future of the young students, who he said were the major victims of the ASUU strike, and as a matter of urgency, ensure that the demands of ASUU were resolved so that the students could return to school.
Obi recalled his years as the governor of Anambra State, how the state soared in educational development, maintaining the first position in WAEC and NECO during his administration. He said the teachers in the state played a significant role in that glorious achievement.
He added, “Just as we managed, motivated and encouraged the teachers to give their best during my years as Governor of the State, we will ensure that teachers in Nigeria are well trained and motivated to remain productive in their duties, under my watch, when elected the President of the country.”
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