The East Regional Working Committee of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has commended Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for reforms introduced in the state’s education sector.
The Regional Chairman of the committee and Enugu State Chairman of the NUT, Mr Odo Nweke, gave the commendation on Wednesday during a visit by the committee to the governor at the Government House.
Nweke explained that the committee represents teachers from the nine states of the old Eastern region. He said the visit was aimed at appreciating Otti for his interventions and commitment to improving education in Abia State.
According to him, the union decided to visit the governor after observing what it described as remarkable improvements in teachers’ welfare and the state’s education system.
“We have heard much about Dr Alex Otti and considered it necessary to come and thank him,” Nweke said.
He noted that the government’s decision to allocate 20 per cent of its annual budget to education had made a significant impact on the sector.
Nweke also highlighted other initiatives, including the recruitment of 5,394 teachers and the ongoing recruitment of another 4,000 teachers across the state.
He further praised the government for ensuring the regular payment of teachers’ salaries and clearing the backlog of 17 months’ salary arrears owed by the previous administration.
According to him, the construction of smart schools across the state and the approval of a 65-year retirement age for teachers were also commendable steps taken by the government.
“There is also regular payment of teachers’ salaries, payment of arrears of 17 months’ salaries owed by the past administration to our teachers, building of smart schools in Abia State and approval of 65 years retirement age for teachers. We have only enumerated a few, and we appreciate you,” he added.
Responding, Otti said his administration was deliberate and committed to transforming the education sector in the state.
He stated that the government had consistently allocated 20 per cent of the state’s annual budget to education over the past three years.
“We are also very intentional because we know the outcomes we expect. We take education very seriously. And the simple reason is that none of us would be sitting here if we were not educated,” Otti said.
“That is why we have, consistently in the last three years, committed one-fifth of our budgets to education, and it will continue that way as long as I remain here,” he added.
The governor further explained that his administration had been renovating and constructing schools while improving teachers’ remuneration, recruitment and training.
Otti said the state was already recording positive results from its investments in education, particularly in school enrolment and students’ academic performance.
“We are looking at school enrolments and the performance of students in different areas, and we are working to ensure that the outcomes we expect are achieved,” he said.
