Governor Ayodele Fayose has donated N50 million to teachers in Ekiti State. He also gave two brand new cars to best teachers in public primary and secondary schools.
Fayose, who spoke during the commemoration of this World Teachers’ Day in Ado-Ekiti, said it was to appreciate them for making the state to emerge first in the 2016 National Examinations Council (NECO).
He promised to increase the incentive to N100 million next year if the teachers could sustain the feat, adding that his government would continue to treat them with dignity and celebrate their competence to help the future of the state.
In another development, Fayose urged President Muhammadu Buhari to stop blaming past leaders, particularly his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, for the current economic recession.
He said what Nigerians voted for in 2015 was a change and Buhari should live by that acronym, failing ‘which Nigerians will change the change’. He said: “What we voted for in 2015 was plenty and bountiful blessing and not economic recession. Today, Nigerian teachers can no longer afford three-square meals a day.
“Nigerians are not begging for too much. What they wanted is to change their fortunes for better. President Buhari must stop complaining. He must address this recession that is killing Nigerians.”
Meanwhile, the Deputy National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Peters Adeyemi, and Deputy National President, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Kelvin Nwankwo, have pleaded with states owing teachers’ salaries to pay up to cushion the effect of the hard-biting economy on the people.
The duo, who commended Fayose for honouring their colleagues, called for an upward review of teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 to arrest premature retirement from the service.
Also, the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, and a former governor of the old Ondo State, Bamidele Olumilua, praised Ekiti teachers for their patriotic and unwavering zeal for the development of education in spite of the economic challenges.
Olumilua said: “Though Nigeria is tough, but Ekiti is lucky to have a governor that has been doing what is necessary. The recession we are passing through is not something unusual, but what we need is a man that is connected to God and who can do what is necessary and we have it in Governor Fayose.
“If you can see, Ekiti is making progress because we have a man that is committed to the well-being of the populace and he is ready to listen to you to make your future great.” (The Guardian)