The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has announced the immediate reinstatement to service of Mr Olusanjo Majekodunmi, deputy director, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the department in charge of setting the disputed English Language question for the states unified examination in 2015 and Ilekoya Oludare, a former chairman of the Nigerian Union of teachers( NUT). They were sacked by Senator Ibikunle Amosun led government.
Oludare Ilekoya was dismissed over alleged misconduct and his involvement into political rally held under disguise of 2016 World Teacher’s day Celebration on October 5, 2016 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Mr Majekodun, who is an examiner in Mayflower Secondary school was sacked over alleged offensive examination question.
Governor Abiodun who made this statement at the celebration of the World Teachers Day, with the theme, ” Young Teachers; The Future of the Profession”, held at Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, said that his administration will continue to ensure that the rights of teachers are protected, calling on teachers to be guided by the laws of the civil service.
He said ”I wish to reiterate that this administration’s commitment to the principles of equity, fairness, justice, and inclusiveness is neither a vote- catching phrase nor a populist sound bite. Besides, we believe in the adage that to err is human and to forgive is divine. It is in the light of this that I approve the immediate reinstatement of Mr Olusanjo Majekodunmi and Oludare Ilekoya back to service from their compulsory retirement over the 2015 English Language examination question and 2017 World Teachers’ Day celebration respectively.
Abiodun noted that the celebration of the World Teachers Day is a key element of nation building and a catalyst for the mental, physical, social and spiritual development of humanity, adding that the celebration is a great day of joy for teachers and those trained or brought up by teachers.
He noted that the role teachers play in molding the younger generation cannot be overemphasized, adding that teachers are fast becoming foster parents as well as teachers and builders of a brighter generation.
” I know very much the sacrifices that teachers make on a daily basis to impart knowledge, considering the prevailing socio-economic situation where we have continued to see that students spend a longer part of their days with their teachers, the teachers are fast becoming foster parents as well, as such, a good student is not just a reflection of the home, but also the teacher. Celebrating our teachers is, therefore, not a thing of one, but of all days,” he added .
Abiodun noted that the 2019 World Teachers Day, with the theme, ” Young Teachers; The Future of the Profession”, couldn’t have been more apt considering the fact that the role of young teachers in the development of the teaching profession and the education sector in general is important.
The governor enjoined the teachers to double their efforts so as to achieve a better performance from students in the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) and other examinations, commending the academic excellence and the sagacity of professional tutors and teachers at the national level through the exploits of Yewa College, Ilaro; Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro; Ijebu-Ode Grammar School; Adeola Odutola College; Mayflower Ikenne; and, Abeokuta Grammar School.
Abiodun also charged labour leaders to be cautious and moderate in pushing forward their requests to government, saying that unionism is a part of the fundamental rights of workers, urging the labour unions and associations to always show understanding in their agitations.
” I concede that unionism is a part of the fundamental rights of workers. But, let me use this opportunity to charge all our labour unions and associations to always show understanding in their agitations as no meaningful results can be achieved in an atmosphere of rancor and discord. Let me use this opportunity to call on all of you to join hands with our administration to actualize the “Building our Future Together Agenda,” he said.
Abiodun felicitated with all teachers in Ogun State as they join their counterparts in other parts of the world in commemorating the 2019 World Teachers’ Day.
Meanwhile the chairman of the Academic Staff Union Of Secondary School, ASUSS. Comrade Akeem Lasisi noted that the administration of Dapo Abiodun has helped in rescuing education sector in Ogun State out of coma.
”We want to thank Abiodun for his intervention in educational sector in Ogun.
In their separate remarks, the Chairman, Nigerian Union of Teachers, Comrade, Titilope Adebanjo and the chairman, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria,(ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, thanked the state governor for approving the promotion of the over 10,000 teachers who were denied promotion by the immediate past administration, calling on the state government to look into the 2018 and 2019 promotion, which he said is long over due.
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