The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has been admonished to ensure quick implementation of the newly announced special salary scale for teachers in public primary and secondary schools in the country.
Islamic cleric and Proprietor, Shafaudeen In Islam Worldwide, Prof. Sabit Olagoke Ariyo, who gave the admonition said that if President Buhari fails to implement the new salary scale before the expiration of his tenure, and allow another party to implement it, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, will find itself to blame.
Prof. Olagoke, while speaking during the lecture and prize giving programme of the annual Olagoke Legacy Educational Competition (O’ LEG) Foundation held at CRCT Ultramodern Hall, Wakajaiye, Ibadan, maintained that the people are more conscious of their needs this time around and prefer to dance to the tune of the party and people who fought for them.
The cleric lamented that Nigerian teachers are suffering and seriously lagging behind especially in the aspect of capacity building. He stated that this challenge is affecting them from following the changing trends in education across the world.
“The announcement of the improved packaged for public schools’ teachers where by their remuneration is going to be upgraded into a structure and be regarded as teachers’ salary scheme is the reminiscent of what has been happening in the higher institutions. This is supposed to have been done since because the work of primary and secondary school teachers is very basic and fundamental to the background need of the strength for the educational progress of the children. They are supposed to be favoured when it comes to the budget, when it comes to motivation.
“Therefore, the special salary scale needs to be implemented immediately especially before the expiration of the present APC-led federal government. This is because the people are conscious of their needs and if they allow another political party to do it, they will find themselves to blame. The area of teachers’ remuneration I am telling you is a good weapon to arrest the love of the people towards the party and towards the people who fought for them in the rein of power,” Prof. Olagoke disclosed.
The Shafaudeen-In-Islam founder also charged parents and students to ensure strict compliance and cooperation to the authority of the school in observing COVID-19 protocols.
The Olagoke Legacy Educational Competition (O’LEG), 14th edition according to Prof. Ariyo, is an annual competition to identify and motivate students in their educational career.
Among schools that participated in this year’s edition of the lecture and prize giving event included Prime College, Islamic College, St. Anne’s College, As-Salam Trust, Shafaudeen Comprehensive College, and Liberty College.
Others were Muslim Model College, Al-Qodi Unique College and Shafaudeen Group of Schools.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
