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Oyebanji splashes N47.8m gift on best teachers, berates exam fraud

.…Ekiti teachers back Governor’s 2026 re-election

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji on Saturday presented a total 47.8 million naira as gifts to teachers who emerged best in different categories during this year’s Teachers’ Day celebrations in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital.

In a stern fashion, the Governor also stressed the resolve of his administration to stamp out examination malpractices in whatever form in order to maintain the integrity of the educational sector in the state.

The teachers also used the opportunity of the World Teachers Day celebration, which took place at Ekito Parapo Pavilion, Ado Ekiti to pass a vote of confidence in the education policies of the Oyebanji administration and endorsed the Governor for a second term in office.

They hinged their endorsement for the Governor on the need to further give him an unfettered opportunity to consolidate on the various programme and policies being implemented to revamp education in the state.

At the event with the theme: ‘Valuing Teachers’ Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education”, Mrs Modupe Folayemi of Saint Francis’ Primary school, Igbara Odo and Mr. Odunayo Oriloye of Notre Dame Grammar School, Usi Ekiti, received a whopping sum of N6 million each, as the best teachers in primary and secondary schools respectively.

Two teachers got the sum of N3 million each as first runners up, four received a sum of N1.5m each as second runners up, while 26 teachers were rewarded with N200,000 each as consolation prize.

The venue of the event was turned into a carnival, as teachers across educational cadres, adorned in Aso Ebi, electrified the arena in celebration of the annual event and praised the Governor for what they described as his teacher-friendly policies.

In his address at the event, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT), Ekiti State, Com. Daodu Bamidele, announced that all the teachers are appreciative of the governor’s positively impactful educational policies and pronounced that they are solidly backing his reelection in 2026.

Daodu commended Oyebanji for his positive contributions to strengthen the sector, urging the government to initiate policies that will checkmate brain- drain in education and retain the best brains within the system.

To accomplish the foregoing, he sought immediate implementation of 65 years retirement for teachers, as obtainable in some states of the federation to give his colleagues job security and relevance in the scheme of things.

“All the teachers in our dear state are appreciative of what the Governor has done. He has paid some of the arrears owed by the past administration and also initiated new ones. For the 2026 governorship election, we want to say that we are solidly behind him”, he said.

In his submission, his counterpart in Academic Staff Union of Secondary School( ASUSS), Com Sola Adigun, advocated that the secondary school teachers should be given the leeway to ascend grade level 17 for better career progression.

In his address, Governor Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said his government has ensured expeditious and timely payment of salaries, deductions, and approval of multimillion naira worth of housing and vehicle loans to motivate the teachers and shore up their outputs.

The governor, who described the teachers as the fortress of the education sector, promised to provide all the necessary incentives that could propel and buoy Ekiti’s rating in educational advancement of the country.

Miffed by reported cases of examination malfeasance in the system, the Governor warned that his government would not tolerate examination malpractices under any guise, promising to wield the big stick against promoters of such sordid action in the state.

“I want to sternly warn school managers at all levels that government has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and investigations are ongoing to look into some of the allegations of connivance in the promotion of examination malpractice in some schools which led to seizure of SSCE certificate examination.

“I haven’t sent any school manager to impress me with bogus result to prove anything to me. We are not in phony competition to earn fake glory that is cancerous to the future of our young ones.

“Ekiti has a great name as a land of scholarship, learning and integrity, we will not tolerate any unwholesome and unethical practice from ant school or staff that could tarnish this glorious reputation”, Oyebanji stated.

On efforts being devised to fortify the sector, Oyebanji said besides payment of salaries and other emoluments, that teachers were being trained locally and internationally to sharpen their mental horizons and increase propensity for better delivery.

The governor applauded the Nigerian Union of Teachers, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary schools and Association of Public Schools Head teachers of Nigeria for their partnership, professionalism and cooperation at all times.

“It is on record that our administration has initiated car and housing loans for primary school teachers, ensured distribution of laptop computers to public secondary schools, colleges and special schools to mitigate the consequential personnel gap and regular disbursement of car/housing loans to eligible secondary school teachers, among others.

“Through the adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment, a World Bank assured project, many of our public schools have been refurbished and perimeter fences have been constructed in line with our safe school initiative.

“We have also fulfilled our promise to address the issue of career progression for graduate teachers in primary schools by approving their advancement from grade level 15 to 16, so as to bring them to a parallel peak with their counterparts in the Civil Service”, he added.

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Education

NASU, SSANU suspend strike

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non teaching staff unions in tertiary institutions, says it has suspended its ongoing strike for one month, effective from Nov. 5.

JAC comprises the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

Mr Peters Adeyemi, General Secretary of NASU said this in a statement jointly signed by Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, President of SSANU on Sunday in Abuja.

JAC had directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike on Oct. 28, to protest non-payment of their salaries for months and non- implementation of other demands.

Adeyemi said the decision to suspend the ongoing strike for a month was due to exhaustive deliberations held with the Federal Government.

According to him, these high-level engagements culminated into extracting an irrevocable commitment from the Federal Government that two out of the four months salaries would be paid in staggered forms.

He said that a payment of the agreement had been made in October 2024, adding that the second month would be paid by the end of November.

”Arising from the above and in view of the level of commitment exhibited by the new Minister of Education and the leadership of the Department of State Services.

“The leadership of JAC, after several contacts and other patriotic considerations, hereby directs that the ongoing strike be suspended for one month effective Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.

“Branch leaders of both NASU and SSANU are hereby directed to convene a joint congress in their respective campuses.

“We wish to reiterate that discussions on the remaining two months, the N5O billion Earned Allowances, Arrears of 25/35 per cent and the Wage Award have been revisited and are undergoing deliberations,” he said.

(NAN)

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Education

FG releases funds for payment of NASU, retirees’ entitlements

The Federal Government has released funds for payment of withheld salaries of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Federal Universities (NASU).

Mr Bawa Mokwa, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) made this known in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.According to Mokwa, the Federal Government also released funds for payment of benefits to retirees under the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS).
He said that payments to NASU had commenced, adding that many members had confirmed receipt.

He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to efficiently cater for the well-being of Nigerian workers and retirees.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that NASU and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had commenced a nationwide strike on Monday.

The SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, said that the strike would continue for the next seven days unless the government addressed the grievances raised by the unions.

The unions had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum, urging the Federal Government to rectify the disparities in the payments among universities’ unions.

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Education

IGP launches school Protection Squad in Anambra

The Inspector General of Police, IG Kayode Egbetokun has launched Schools Protection Squad in Anambra State to ensure security in educational institutions of all cadre in the state.

The squad, a creation of the IGP, is coordinated by CP Ogunlowo as a way to secure schools and also reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 13, Ukpo, AIG Godwin Aghaulor who represented Egbetokun during a stakeholders forum on security of schools in Anambra State on Tuesday said the forum offers promising steps and measures geared towards prioritizing, and improving security in and around schools and learning institutions in Anambra State.

He said: “Our presence here today is a testament to our collective will and effort to support the IGP and the Nigeria Police Force in promoting the Federal government agenda of prioritizing school protection in Nigeria, as this is one of the many strategic forums on school protection that has been initiated and ongoing in many parts of the country.

“The safety and security of our educational institutions are paramount, and it is imperative that we work together to protect and safeguard our students and educators. Collaboration and integration between host communities and security agencies play a significant role in fostering to secure and harmonious coexistence.

“Nigeria Police Force has also embraced the project by establishing the Schools Protection Squad (SPS) in all the States of the Federation and the FCT, as well as the training of State Coordinators and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) nationwide.”

The forum had the theme: Strengthening Security Resilience and Integration of Host Communities in the Protection of Education, and featured paper presentation from Prof Chidozie Nwafor, Head of Department in the Department of Psychology in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam said to address the challenge of insecurity in schools, the command adopted a multi-faceted approach.

He listed the approaches to include conducting regular security assessments and developing emergency response plans, enhancing access control and surveillance systems, collaboration with law enforcement agencies, and training of educators and staff on security protocols.

Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr Onyekachi Ibezim commended the IG for housing the state as one of the pioneer states for the launch of School Protection Squad.
He said the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo is working hard to ensure security and a beautiful education system in the state.

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