Always toe the line of peace and dialogue - President Jonathan to NUT

Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Lady Valerie Ebe (second left), with Minister of Labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu (l), National President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), comrade Abudul Waheed Umar (second right), and representative of the Minister of Education, Mrs. C. I. Phillips (r), during the 56th National Conference of Delegate of NUT, held at Sir Udo Udoma House, Uyo, on Wednesday
 

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged  members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to continue to toe the line of peace and dialogue in the conduct of their business, noting that their zeal for the enthronement of social dialogue and collective bargaining is the relative peace and tranquility experienced within the body.

The President, who was represented by Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, at the 56th National Conference of Delegate of NUT, held at Sir Udo Udoma House, Uyo, said “I note with interest the importance of this conference. I also take particular notice in the theme, ‘Changing Nigeria’s Fortune Through Quality Teachers.’ It captures the minds and aspirations of all Nigerians.

Undoubtedly, education holds the magic wand for national development and advancement basically due to the fact that without a well educated population, there is no way we can effective and efficiently harness and manage our resources for socio-economic and other institutional sustainable development. This is why we must lay emphasis on the training and education of our children and youths in whose hands the management of the future affairs of our country lies. These noble objectives cannot be achieved without quality teachers.”

“This administration is mindful of this fact and education, as the bedrock of civilization, forms part of the Transformation Agenda and other economic policies, programmes and projects currently being considered and implemented in the country,” he said

He commended NUT for their role in uplifting the standard of education in the country, adding that the teachers’ commitment to ensuring the success of the educational system and its products would make the country a better society.

Also speaking, the supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said if teachers and teaching quality must be achieved, performance evaluation with implications for retention, promotion and intervention, must be overemphasized. Chief Wike advised that the instruments should be designed in such a way that they tease out professional strengths and weaknesses of teachers and principals, stressing that it was the weaknesses that are remediated through professional learning programmes.
On his part, the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by his deputy, Lady Valerie Ebe, said the state had been deeply concerned about the development of education, an expression which led to the institutionalization of the free and compulsory education programme to all Nigerian children resident in the state.

According to him, “let me pay tribute to NUT for being a dependable and reliable partner in the Uncommon Transformation of education in our state. We realized from the onset that it required well-equipped and qualified teachers to ensure the success of free and compulsory education programme in the state. This, therefore, informed our continuous commitment and investment in the development of sound teachers to carry out this programme. We have employed over 2000 teachers in order to boost the programme. We have organized seminars, workshops and various symposiums in conjunction with reputable institutions to ensure the success of the programme.”

“As you have come to our shores to internalize some of our magic in education sector, I implore you to see your duty as a sacred call for service to humanity. Your investment in the lives of our children today will determine what kind of fruits they will bear tomorrow. I urge you to lay in them foundations through love that will improve our nation. When there is need to discipline, do. When there is need to appreciate excellence, do. When there is need to cuddle, please do. In all, do it in love for love is the greatest force of transformation.”

Chief Akpabio commended the organizers of the conference and charged them to let love lead as they carry out their duties.

Responding, the National President of NUT, Comrade Michael Olukoya, said part of the essence of the conference was to allow participants the opportunity to warm themselves with solidarity banters and to demonstrate brotherhood and comradeship through sharing of experiences and goodwill.
Comrade Olukoya commended governments at all levels who have religiously implemented the reward system of National Minimum Wage and paid the arrears therein and on the other hand, is perplexed that states like Benue and few others have persistently refused to implement the approved wages and 27.5% Teachers Peculiar Allowances fully to teachers.

He commensurate with families of over 173 teachers who lost their lives so far through Boko Haram insurgence, urging the federal and respective state governments to exhibit true concern to the bereaved families.

In his remark, the State Chairman of NUT, Comrade Etim Ukpong, expressed delight for the opportunity given the state chapter to host the National Conference, saying it was symbolic and happened at a time when their eminent son, Obong Ikpe Obong, is serving as the Secretary General of the body and when the chapter was completing its State Secretariat.

In his words “Akwa Ibom is blessed with a Governor who has unequalled passion for education and is teachers’ friendly,” but added that their only grey area was in their drive for optimum welfare for members was the inability of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to pay promptly.
He urged the National Assembly to speed up the process of constitution review and ensure the removal of primary education funding from the purview of Local Government Councils.