From Paul Emumena Michael
Renowned chieftain and governorship hopeful of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Delta State, Great Ovedje Ogboru, has canvassed a for better welfare package for Nigerian teachers especially the ones in Delta State.
Ogboru who was facilitating with Nigerian teachers during the recent celebration of Teachers’ Day, stated that the role of the teacher in nation building is peculiar and most tedious.
In a statement issued by the former Labour Party governorship candidate in the 2015 general election and made available to HardReporters, Ogboru extoled Nigerian teachers, saying their “labour of love is highly commendable and should not be taken for granted in the society.”
The APC chieftain, who said no society progresses without teachers, frowned at the ill manner the Nigerian teacher is treated and admonished governments across the country to always ensure that teachers are highly motivated as they sacrificially discharge their duties.
Ogboru particularly berated the government of Delta State for taking the welfare of teachers loosely, even as he stated it is totally irresponsible for a state government to neglect the very people that shoulders the burden of building an educated and enlightened society.
“If you remove the teacher from the society, what you have left is a stagnant society; nothing works without learning how to make it work. Teachers hold the keys to every working society, they are the foundation upon which other sections are built.
“As the world celebrates teachers day, I want to congratulate all our teachers for their selfless services to humanity. They are not just builders, but also watchmen and counselors, playing a very demanding role on behalf of parents. This shows how important they are in nation’s building.
“However, it is disheartening and condemnable beholding how teachers are treated with so much disregard especially in Delta State. They suffer unnecessary pay cut, nonpayment of salaries as and when due as well as intimidated with threats of retrenchment. Every responsible government will avoid whatever is capable of distracting our teachers from performing their official duties effectively and efficiently”, Ogboru said.
Ogboru tasks the Delta State government to prioritise the welfare of Delta teachers and try work on improving the salaries of teachers as well as create an enabling environment that encourages learning.
