Ebonyi State Governor, Eng. David Umahi has frowned at the poor performance of Ebonyi State students in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) which he traced to poor teaching, even as he asked teachers in the state to start re-evaluating themselves before the middle of January 2016.
Umahi made it clear that he would also be re-evaluating the teachers next year, because “we can’t continue to come last in WAEC evaluation. We need to come from between one and three.”
The governor who received a delegation of the state council of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the EXCO chambers in Abakaliki, stressed that the re-evaluation of teachers is necessary to arrest the dwindling academic standard in the state since “we cannot afford to mortgage the future of our children.”
The governor however assured that no teacher would be disengaged as a result of the re-evaluation even as he asked NUT to liaise with the Commissioner for Education, Professor John Eke, to come up with a programme that would enable the government mount consistent and effective supervision of schools.
The governor also assured of his commitment to the payment of teachers salaries on the 15th of every month in spite of the fact that allocation from the Federation Account get to the states a month after.
He explained that his administration would not toy with the welfare of teachers because of their importance to the upbringing of future leaders, adding that in spite of the economic hardship in the country, the state government had resolved to put smiles on the faces of its workforce.
“During this Christmas, every teacher must go home with a bag of rice. In this Christmas every senior civil servant must receive 50 per cent salary bonus and every junior civil servant must receive 100 per cent salary bonus.”
The governor said that the state Executive Council (SEC) had approved the purchase of computer laptops for primary and secondary school teachers in the state, but noted that certain conditions must be met before the purchase.
“EXCO has okayed laptop for teachers; but certain measures have to be guaranteed . And it is to protect you(teachers). I want the deduction on the teachers to be very low. No teacher should pay more than N2, 000 monthly deduction under this programme,” he stressed.
The governor, who accepted the proposal for the establishment of at least one ICT centre in each of the senatorial zones of the state, stated that the government had commenced the training of teachers on ICT to bring them in tandem with development across the world.
The governor directed the managers of the education system in the state to as a matter of state policy re-introduce clubs like the debating societies, press clubs, drama clubs, etc into primary and secondary schools in the state to assist in brushing up the students.
He appealed to the teachers to support the government’s agricultural policies, stressing that the 2016 budget of the state was predicated on Agriculture.
In the arrears of salaries and leave allowances owed to the teachers, the governor said, “I will appeal to you to look at our circumstances and continue to believe that we are owing you.”
Earlier, the state Chairman of the state NUT, Comrade Joseph Nweke, told Governor Umahi that his team came to thank him for his kindness towards the teachers in primary and secondary schools in the state.
Nweke, who enumerated various areas teachers had benefited from the government, applauded the governor for his giant strides in infrastructural developments across the state.
Meanwhile, the governor, today, flagged off the construction of three major roads in the three senatorial zones of the state.
They are the 23.7km Hilltop- Nwofe and the 15.5km Nkalagu/Ehamufu Roads awarded to China Zunghaoi Ltd as well as the 23.5 km Amasiri/Okposi/Uburu Road awarded to CONROCK Nigeria ltd.
Governor Umahi said that the commencement of work on the Hilltop- Nwofe Road was a dream fulfilled, adding that the reconstruction of the road was underscored by the overwhelming support and solidarity he received from Izzi people during the governorship election in the state.
Recalling that the road had suffered many years of neglect, he pointed out that his decision to award the contract was also informed by the massive support from the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Francis Nwifuru, who is an Izzi man.
The governor, who directed that work must go simultaneously from the two ends of the road, directed that three civil engineers from the local government areas where the road passes must be engaged to be part of the teams to supervise the three roads.
According to him, the engineers would garner more experience from the contractors to enable them benefit from projects that would be awarded in future by his administration.
At Nkalagu, the governor described the Nkalagu- Ehamufu Road which last received government attention almost six decades ago as not only important to Ebonyi State but to the entire Igbo race.
He disclosed that negotiation had reached advanced stage for Ibeto Cement Company to take over and revitalize NIGERCEM Cement Factory in Nkalagu to regain its past glory.
“By flagging off the construction of this road, it is no longer a hidden agenda that Ibeto must come and develop NIGERCEM and by 7th of this month, we must have concluded with Ibeto and do agreement with him to ensure that the rights of our communities, Local and state Governments are protected,” he added.
At Amasiri junction where he described the gathering as being akin to a political rally, the governor announced plans to construct Effium,Agba/Ohoffia road,Ntezi/Isu road and Ebwona road next year.
He said the Amasiri-Okposi-Uburu Road was important because it also links Ebonyi State with Enugu State.
Governor Umahi directed local government chairmen and coordinators of development centres whose areas are linked to the roads to monitor the progress of work by the contractor.
He said, “there is no project started by this administration that will be stopped. They have their money. Where our money stopped, they continue with their money and we will be paying. It is in the agreement.
“I will give you a road built on concrete that for 50 years, nobody will touch the road.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr.Fidelis Nweze, who observed that the Hilltop-Nwofe Road had never received attention since the inception of old Eastern Region. [myad]
