Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Saturday, announced the immediate reinstatement of two teachers who were sacked by the immediate past administration.
Abiodun announced the reinstatement during the celebration of the 2019 World Teachers’ Day, held at the Moshood Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme for this year’s Day is “Young Teachers, the Future of the Profession”.
One of the affected teachers, Mr Olusanjo Majekodunmi, who was a Deputy Director at the state ministry of education, science and technology, was laid off in 2015 for setting “offensive” English questions for the state unified examination.
The other teacher, Mr Oludare Ilekoya, a former chairman of the state branch of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), was sacked over alleged “involvement in various acts of misconduct and contravention of extant regulations” during the World Teachers’ Day celebrations in 2016.
Abiodun, however, announced their reinstatement at the celebration, saying that his administration would continue to ensure that the rights of teachers were protected.
The governor, who admitted that teachers had rights to engage in unionism, however, urged labour leaders to be cautious, moderate and show understanding in pushing their requests and agitations before the government.
“Let me use this opportunity to call on all of you to join hands with my administration to actualise its “Building our Future Together” agenda,” he said.
The governor described the World Teachers’ Day celebration as a key element of nation building and catalyst for the mental, physical, social and spiritual development of humanity.
He stressed the importance of teachers’ roles in moulding the younger generation, adding that “they are fast becoming foster parents as well as builders of a brighter generation.
“I know very much the sacrifices that teachers make on a daily basis to impart knowledge, ” he said.
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 public examinations.
He commended the efforts of the teachers, particularly in schools where the students had won laurels for the state at the national level.
The governor listed the schools to include Yewa College, Ilaro; Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro; Ijebu-Ode Grammar School; Adeola Odutola College; Mayflower School, Ikenne and Abeokuta Grammar School.
In their separate remarks, the state NUT Chairman, Mrs Titilope Adebanjo and her Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools of Nigeria (ASUSS) counterpart, Mr Akeem Lasisi, commended Abiodun over the recent promotion of more than 10,000 teachers.
They alleged that the teachers had been denied promotion by the immediate past administration.
